Thai food. How do you describe Thai food? I would just simply say sweet, sour, and spicy! It’s a cuisine that is full of flavours, good use of ingredients and always never too complicated. I know I probably have mentioned this too many times but I am really glad that I have been brought up in a society that has allowed me to taste different cuisines without having to travel too far!
There’s one Thai restaurant in my hometown, that I always make sure I go when I travel back to Malaysia. It is very well-known amongst the locals and through word of mouth, many people travel from far to dine there. It’s just a basic restaurant without much deco that offers authentic Thai food. When I say authentic, I mean the food is like what a real Thai loves! There were 3 chefs, all Thai-Malaysian women, operated and owned by a Thai family. There’s absolutely no shortcut in preparing their dishes. No written menu is given, it’s always spelt out verbally. The ordering process always starts like this ‘what are the specials for the day’? We will see what we fancy for that day – chicken? vegs? fish? seafood? starters or no starers? Then, the waitress will tell us what they have for that day and how they will be cooked.
One thing that I don’t even have to think twice to order is Som Tam (ส้มตำ) or Thai Papaya Salad. Some restaurants call it Pok Pok. At first, I couldn’t make sense of why it’s called Pok Pok. Then, I learnt that it’s because when all the ingredients are all pounded together in a mortar using a pestle, it produces the sound “pok pok”. Hence, the reason why it’s also called Pok Pok.
Som tam is a spicy salad that is made from shredded green and firm papaya. Then, it is dressed with a sweet, sour, and spicy dressings. Som Tam is one of the most popular dishes in Thailand, originated in the northeast of the Kingdom. Som Tam is assembled in a mortar in which the vegetables and papaya are slightly crushed together, a technique that helps release the flavours and juices.
Som Tam is such a simple stuff but big in flavours - this is the reason why I love Som Tam so much!! No hassles in preparing – you don’t even have to use your wok/frying pan, oil and switch the gas on. Som Tam, it is a dish that I have been eating since young, it has become part of my life. It is probably one of the best friends to my taste buds! Once in a while, when my taste buds cry for help, especially for sweetness, sourness, and spiciness at the same time, Som Tam is what comes to my mind!
One thing though, it’s pretty difficult to get green papaya in London. But, I finally manage to track green papaya down! There is no where else to go but certain Asian supermarkets that stock plenty of SE Asian food and fresh ingredients! Having paid quite a big price for a medium size green papaya that probably costs only a few Malaysian Ringgits/Thai Bahts, is well worth it! High possibility that it costs nothing after all if there’s a papaya tree grown in the garden! The taste of Som Tam makes me feel at home, the taste that I am so familiar with. I am happy! It’s a dish that makes me happy, that’s it!
This Som Tam recipe that I am going to share today is from a Thai Chef that taught me how to make authentic Som Tam. I am sharing this dish of great flavours with all of you! Hope you’ll like it! 
Recipe: Som Tam (Thai Papaya Salad)
Serves 4
Ingredients:
Papaya (shredded), 400g
Garlic, 4 cloves
Green Thai chili, 2-3
Cherry tomatoes, 10
Long beans, 80g
Fish sauce, 3-4 tsp
Lime juice, 4-5 tsp
Dried shrimps, 20g
Peanuts (toasted), 40g
Palm sugar, 3-4 tbsp
Method:
1. Peel the green papaya and shred the papaya with a zigzag peeler.
2. Soak the papaya in water to remove the acid and make it crispy.
3. Crush the chili, garlic, long beans, dried shrimps and peanuts in a mortar.
4. Mix all the ingredients together with the pestle and spoon.
Note: You can use cashew nuts too.
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November 19th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
I love this papaya salad!! it's like kerabu but ligher version right? now you make me drooling just thinking how good it's!
November 19th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
I dream of Thaïland… we hope traveling there next spring… to discover the country, but also the cooking!
November 20th, 2009 at 2:25 am
This looks so refreshing! Nice recipe!
November 20th, 2009 at 1:34 am
I love Thai food. This is one dish I will order when I am there.
November 20th, 2009 at 3:10 am
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November 20th, 2009 at 3:30 am
It looks very authentic!! How much did you pay for the fruit?
November 20th, 2009 at 5:41 am
Somehow I can just not get my mind around buying a green papaya……..this salad has just pushed me over the edge…it looks so refreshing and scrumptious!!!
November 20th, 2009 at 5:53 am
This looks very appetising. I love Thai food….that sour, sweet, spicy taste like what you said, so beautifully blended together. I'm trying to learn more Thai dishes. This would be one to go but sadly I can't find green papaya here. Maybe I'll hv to go fo mango as a substitute. Thanks for sharing.
November 20th, 2009 at 5:59 am
Hello my fellow Ah Nya
Your Som Tam looks really, really drool-worthy. And you learnt it from a Thai chef? How generous of you to share it with all of us. The colours of your creation are just amazing!
November 20th, 2009 at 6:22 am
Pok Pok? First time I heard this name
…cute.
November 20th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Your som tam looks wonderful! First time I had it was at a pasar malam in Kelantan many, many moons ago. I loved it straight away. Crunchy, tangy and refreshing!
November 20th, 2009 at 9:42 am
oh my favaurite dish, I like to eat som tum with sticky rice and gai yang (grilled chicken). My ex was thai and his mum often make som tum with salted crabs. I hold a lot of beautiful memory associated with Som Tum. Thanks for sharing the recipe, will make this soon but have to find raw papaya first!
November 20th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
How nice that you have a dish that makes you happy
) enjoy it! it looks good! 
)
November 20th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
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November 20th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Yes! It's like kerabu!! You remind me of kerabu mango now..
November 20th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Wow.. that sounds really interesting! I am sure you will like the food in Thailand.
November 20th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Thanks Alice!
November 20th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
It's difficult to resist Thai food… all the flavours are just amazing!
November 20th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Thanks! Well, I paid about £5, which is about AUD9!!
November 20th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Nina,
Yes, it is a very simple yet refreshing recipe! There is a version with green mango too… I love the sourness of it … yum!!
November 20th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Ah… haven't had this in ages. This looks great, very light and refreshing like it should be.
And I love the colours!
November 20th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Mary,
Thanks for dropping by and your comment. Mango is a great substitute, there's a version that uses mango and I absolutely love it!
November 20th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Heheh… thank you! Yes, learnt it from a Thai chef from the restaurant.
November 20th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Yeah, I learnt this not too long ago too…
November 20th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Yeah… I totally agree with you!
November 20th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
That combination sounds really interesting.
I found the green papaya at one Asian supermarket near Queensway Underground station in London.
November 20th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Yeah.. this dish is a happy one.. actually most dishes are
November 20th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
I have to admit that I haven't had it for ages too as I couldn't find green papaya. When I found green papaya, I was sooooo happy!
Straight away I knew I was going to make Som Tam!
November 21st, 2009 at 12:57 am
wow!!! this looks great! clean, yummy, healthy, and simply wow! love the pix too. New here, but will definitely come back!
November 21st, 2009 at 1:07 am
This is beautiful! It looks like a really refreshing recipe – yum!
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:32 am
wow that's very expensive, it would have been even more when the pound was much stronger.
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Who said salad can be boring? Yours looks so mouth-watering and appetizing! The photo is beautifully captured too!
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Simply gorgeous. I always look wistfully at the shredded papaya in the Asian markets and thought to make my own. Can't wait to try this out!
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:40 pm
It's 1:37am and I am hungry ! So tempting to eat your photo..hehe. Love it with the mini crab
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Thanks for dropping by and your comment!
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Thanks!
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:54 pm
It is very expensive unfortunately!
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:55 pm
This salad is just too tasty to resist.. ehhe.. thanks!
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Thanks!! You should try making it, so simple.
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Opssss.. sorry.. I love the idea of mini crab… but I don't think I can find mini crabs here
November 24th, 2009 at 2:29 am
Just returned from Thailand and had this dish most days, the locals may have a few extra chillies but the combination of ingredients go together beautifully. In Thailand i was paying AUD $1 and it fed two.
Westerners could learn alot from Asia and there fresh healthy foods
November 24th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Thanks for dropping by. A few extra chillies will add a good kick to this simple salad.. I love it..
AUD$1 is really cheap! Imagine I paid almost AUD $10 for one green papaya over here..
Please stay tuned for more Asian delights!
November 24th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
yay to sweet, sour and spicy! I actually quite enjoy this salad because of those flavours!
November 26th, 2009 at 6:37 am
I have never bought a green papaya before. Do you choose a firm green papaya?
November 26th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
I never bought green papaya too.. but I got no choice.. back home in Malaysia, I can get green papaya for free.
Green papaya should be firm and the flesh should be light green to almost transparent light green.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:23 pm
One of my favorite Thai foods! I look for this at every Thai restaurant I go to. So refreshing!
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:56 pm
If you like learning to cook thai food, take a look at this website
http://www.thaifoodtonight.com/thaifoodtonight/re...
December 4th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Hi,
Thanks for dropping by and your comment!
December 5th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
This is my fave Thai appetiser … so beautifully made in your kitchen ^_^