My Favourite Thai Food (4 -- Som Tum)

Thai "Som Tam" Papaya Salad.


Ingredients: 

Green papaya or carrots or both 400gms
Unsalted toasted peanuts 50 gms
Dried shrimp 50 gms
Fresh chilli peppers (optional) 


Dressing:

Lime juice and Sugar (prefer brown sugar) equally (aprox 55 
gms), Fish sauce (use Thai's Tipparot or Oyster brand) about 35 gms, and a little Chopped garlic (if you are using apple, pears or such kind of fruit, do not put garlic, use less 
sugar, and use salt instead of fish sauce)


How to:

- Wash and peel green papaya and/or carrots (don't peel 
apple), grate them into long thin strips (for apple, dice it).

- Crush or grind the peanuts.

- Soak dried shrimp in water and drain it well. Dry them on a 
baking sheet in the oven, then grind them well.

- Wash whole fresh chilli peppers and crash them with the flat
part of a knifeblade. (how many chillis is up to your taste)

- Mix all the dressing ingredients together, stir until 
sugar is completely dissolved.

- Just before serving, toss the prepared shredded green papaya and carrot with the dressing, add crushed fresh chilli pepper, crushed peanuts and ground dried shrimp. Keep some crushed peanuts and ground dried shrimp to garnish the salad.

- Serve the salad on lettuce leaf and top with the remaining 
crushed peanuts and ground shrimp.


I prefer more lime juice and always put a little grinded lime 
peel in my Som Tam. How sour, sweet, salty, or spicy is all
up to you.