Easy Zesty Thai Papaya Salad Som Tum Recipe with 6 Fresh Ingredients
A quick and refreshing Thai papaya salad featuring a perfect balance of sour, salty, and spicy flavors made with just six simple ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups shredded green papaya (about 300 grams)
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 bird’s eye chili, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon palm sugar, grated or finely chopped
Instructions
- Using a vegetable peeler, remove the skin of the green papaya. Then shred the papaya into thin, long strips using a box grater or mandoline slicer. Aim for about 3 cups (approximately 300 grams).
- Finely chop 2 large garlic cloves and 1 bird’s eye chili. Remove seeds if you prefer less heat.
- In a mortar and pestle, gently pound the garlic and chili just enough to release their aroma without pulverizing into a paste. Add 1 tablespoon of grated palm sugar and pound lightly to dissolve it slightly.
- Pour in 3 tablespoons of fresh lime juice and 2 tablespoons of fish sauce into the mortar, stirring gently to combine all flavors. Taste and adjust if needed.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded papaya with the dressing. Toss gently but thoroughly until every strand is coated.
- Let the salad rest for 5 minutes to marry the flavors. Optionally, sprinkle roasted peanuts or halved cherry tomatoes on top for extra texture and color. Serve immediately.
Notes
Shred papaya into thin, matchstick-like strips for the best texture. Lightly bruise garlic and chili to release flavor without bitterness. Adjust lime juice and fish sauce to taste. Serve fresh within an hour to maintain crunch. For vegetarian version, substitute fish sauce with soy sauce or tamari.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 0.5
- Saturated Fat: 0.1
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 1
Keywords: Thai papaya salad, Som Tum, green papaya salad, zesty salad, quick Thai recipe, fresh Thai salad