Som Tam Isaan (Isaan Papaya Salad)
Som Tum Isaan is one of the most iconic dishes from northeastern Thailand. This bold, spicy, pungent green papaya salad is Thailand’s most famous salad, eaten everywhere from street stalls to family tables.
- Prep time
- 10 min
- Cook time
- 5 min
- Yield
- 2 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1–10 Thai chilies, fresh or dried (adjust to taste)
- 1/3 cup long beans, cut into 1½ inch pieces. Any type of beans will work.
- 1/3 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1½ cups green papaya, finely shredded (about 6 oz)
- 1/2 tablespoon fish sauce (Thai brand preferred, Squid brand works well)
- 3 tablespoons fermented fish sauce (pla ra) – Pan Thai brand
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, plus ½ squeezed lime, rind left in
- 1 tablespoon palm sugar, finely shaved or softened. Regular white sugar will also work
- 1 tablespoon water (to loosen the sauce)
- ½ teaspoon MSG (optional but traditional)
Instructions
- 1
Peel the papaya, rinse it, and pat dry. Shred it into thin strands using one of the methods pictured above. Keep the shredded papaya in an ice bath until you’re ready to use it so it stays crisp.
- 2
. Just until crushed and fragrant.
- 3
. Add the long beans and pound until lightly broken, not mushy. Add the cherry tomatoes and the lime wedges and pound lightly. Leave the squeezed lime halves in the mortar to releases aromatic oil. I do this step before the sauces on purpose to build flavors.
- 4
. Add the shredded papaya and gently pound and toss until everything is coated.
- 5
Add fish sauce, Pla Ra, lime juice, water, palm sugar, and MSG. Start with small amounts and adjust as you go. You should hit sour, salty, and spicy right away. The trick is to add small amount and increase at you go. Taste and adjust often, especially if you’re new to making papaya salad.
- 6
. Adjust with more chilies, lime, sugar or fish sauce as needed. Enjoy immediately. Som Tum isn’t meant to sit. The texture and flavors fade quickly.