Thai Green Papaya Salad Som Tam

Thai food lover? Take a look at our Vegetarian Thai Green Curry. Not sure about you but I know I could never get tired of barbecues! Never. I prefer the smokiness of grilled meats and freshness of summer salads to almost anything. That is why I am always giddy with excitement when I learn of a new side to go alongside my meat. Yep, I am a carnivore with a huge affinity for vegetables. I’ve experimented with Asian flavours for a couple of decades now. Every since spending a year in the Philippines, I’ve carried a love of Asian food with me wherever I go. So when a lovely friend shared this traditional Thai salad with me, I was super excited. The combination of flavours and textures intrigued me and immediately inspired to make my own version of it.

Som Tam ingredients

I was intrigued because this salad’s main ingredient is green/unripe papaya along with green beans, cherry tomatoes and peanuts. Papaya is a favourite and I buy it whenever I can. But I had never tried it green and my curiosity was peaked. I was excited because I absolutely adore Thai flavours. Thai cuisine has mastered the perfect balance of salty, sweet, sour and spicy without sacrificing fresh ingredients. The list of ingredients in this salad is not long, but is the perfect mix of taste and texture. There is no need to add a lot of ingredients if you add the right ingredients!

Thai Papaya Salad Dressing

The dressing recipe has a few influences, but combines some experimentation of my own. It’s creamy, spicy and just sweet enough. As I mentioned earlier sweetness is one of the flavour anchors of Thai cuisine. Palm sugar is traditionally used and can be found in specialty stores and major supermarkets. If you can’t find it, brown sugar is a good substitute. Other flavours that come in the mix are salty, sour and spicy delivered by fish sauce, tamarind and chillies respectively.

What can I use instead of green papaya?

If you do not have access to a green papaya, feel free to substitute with carrots. They have a very similar texture and a slightly sweeter taste. Either way this salad is guaranteed to be delicious!