Pounding the Papaya
The shredded green papaya must be firm and crisp. By pounding it with long beans, tomatoes, and dried shrimp, the dressing is forced into the fruit. It should be a balance of lime juice, fish sauce, and palm sugar. If it is too watery, it was not made fresh.
Balancing the Heat
Be careful when the auntie asks how many chillies you want. Even two bird's eye chillies can make this dish fiery. It is meant to be eaten as a side dish to grilled meats or sticky rice to help cut through the fat.
Quick answers
- Is it vegetarian-friendly?
- Standard Som Tam contains fish sauce and dried shrimp. You can often request a 'vegetarian' version without these, but the flavour profile will change significantly.
- Why is it called 'Green' papaya salad?
- It uses unripe papaya, which is white or pale green inside and has a neutral, crunchy texture similar to a cucumber or radish.