Som Tam, also known as green papaya salad, is a popular Thai dish with many variations depending on region and taste preferences. It typically includes shredded green papaya, fish sauce, dried shrimp, peanuts, chilies, and greens, and is often served by street vendors. The dish is traditionally made with a mortar and pestle, but can be made without. Fruit som tam is a delicacy from the Isaan region that combines fruits and vegetables with palm sugar, limes, fish sauce, and hot peppers.
Som tam is a Thai dish known to many people as green papaya salad. As with most regional cuisine, however, Som Tam has many variations that depend on taste preferences and locality, among other factors. The ingredients used in this dish might include chopped green papaya, fish sauce, dried shrimp, peanuts, chilies, and greens. It is often served by street vendors in Thailand who prepare the dish to order. According to many Thais, som tam is one of Thailand’s most popular dishes and can be found in almost every street vendor area.
The common ingredient in the various types of som tam is shredded green papaya, but most other aspects of the dish vary widely from preparer to preparer. In some places, the ingredients might include things like fermented fish sauce, sugar, and some fruits. Even though a variety of ingredients are used in this dish, its composition is usually the same. A dressing is made, then the various vegetables, fruits, and proteins are added in varying amounts and mixed together in a mortar and pestle to bring out all the flavors.
Many people believe that som tam is best served with sticky rice, although it could be served with a variety of side dishes. It can be served with chicken, fish or even on its own as a meal or snack. Sometimes, dried fish or prawns are added directly to the dish.
While traditionally made with a mortar and pestle, a tam can be made without these kitchen utensils. Important to the dish is the crushing of each ingredient to release the flavor and aroma. This could be accomplished by using a rolling pin or jar to crush ingredients in sealed bags before combining or by simply crushing them with a spoon as each ingredient is mixed. Some ingredients, such as corn, are not normally smashed and are added at the end to match the rest of the dish.
Fruit som tam is a delicacy common to the Isaan region of Thailand. Although the name implies that it is a dish made with fruit and without traditional vegetables and fish, this is not the case. Fruits such as grapes and apples are combined with vegetables such as long beans and eggplants, and those are then mixed with palm sugar, limes, tomatoes, fish sauce and hot peppers to create a savory, sweet, sour and hot dish that appeals to many people . As in any case, the ingredients and exact measurements are not always the same.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
