Som Tam
AI-generated image
Gluten-free Thai

Som Tam

A bright Thai green papaya salad combining crisp shredded papaya, juicy tomatoes, long beans, toasted peanuts, and a salty-sour dressing with chile and lime. A brief simmer dissolves the palm sugar evenly without dulling the fresh flavors.

30 min 4 servings Medium
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How to prepare

1
Place the palm sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved into a thin syrup; cool for 5 minutes.
2
Combine the warm palm-sugar syrup, lime juice, and fish sauce in a bowl. Stir until smooth, then taste for a lively sweet-sour-salty balance.
3
Place the peeled garlic cloves and stemmed bird’s eye chiles in a large mortar. Pound them with the pestle 6 to 8 times until the garlic is visibly cracked and the chiles are bruised, releasing a sharp fragrance; leave the mixture coarse rather than turning it into a paste.
4
Add the green beans and pound lightly 4 to 5 times to crack their surface. Add the tomatoes and press once or twice until they release some juice while remaining visibly intact.
5
Add the shredded papaya and dressing. Toss and pound lightly with a spoon or pestle for 1 to 2 minutes, turning continuously, until the strands are coated and slightly tender but still crisp.
6
Fold in half of the crushed peanuts, transfer the salad to a serving platter, and scatter the remaining peanuts over the top. Serve immediately with lime wedges.
Finished Som Tam Thai green papaya salad topped with roasted peanuts and served with lime wedges AI-generated image

Why this recipe works

The salad works through contrast: crisp papaya and beans meet juicy tomatoes, crunchy peanuts, and a dressing that layers lime acidity, fish sauce savoriness, palm-sugar roundness, and fresh chile heat.

Storage and reheating

How to store it

Refrigerate the undressed vegetables and dressing separately for up to 2 days. Once dressed, the salad is best within 2 hours because the papaya softens.

How to reheat it

Do not reheat. Serve the salad chilled or at cool room temperature.

Nutrition / serving

211kcal
6.48 gprotein
33.95 gcarbs
8.03 gfat
P
Pantryvale editorial kitchen
Recipe prepared for publication with complete ingredients and ordered cooking steps.
Published 20 Aug 2026 · updated 20 Aug 2026