Green Papaya Salad

Green Papaya Salad (Som tum) muddled with dried shrimp, fish sauce, roasted peanuts and lime.

Recipe for Green Papaya Salad

Ingredients for Green Papaya Salad:

• 250g. unripe young papaya
• 2-3 long beans halved crosswise (optional)
• 5 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 tbsp dried baby shrimp - pound to bruise
• 50g. roasted peanuts or cashews -  coarsely chopped

Green Papaya Salad Dressing:

• 1 1/2 tbsp palm sugar
• 1 1/2 fish sauce
• 1 tbsp green lime juice  (use tamarind in place of lime)
• 1 clove garlic, diced
• 2-3 green chilli padi - coarsely chopped  
• 2-3 red chilli padi - coarsely chopped
• Chopped handful of fresh coriander

How to make Spicy Green Papaya Salad:

1. Peel the green papaya with a sharp knife, then slice it in half and use a spoon to scrape out the seeds. Using the largest grater you have, grate the papaya, or you can use a potato peeler to create thin, ribbon-like strips. Place in a large bowl.
2. Cook long beans in medium saucepan of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Rinse under cold water. Cut into 2-inch pieces. 
3. Combine cooked long beans, cherry tomatoes together in the large bowl.
4. Dressing: Combine palm sugar, fish sauce and lime juice. Mix till sugar dissolves. 
5. Add in diced garlic, chilli padi and chopped coriander leaves. Mix well.
6. Pour dressing over the large bowl and toss. Sprinkle dried baby shrimp and peanuts over and serve.

Note: You can prepare this salad ahead of time, combine all ingredients except the nuts and the dressing. Leave it covered in the refrigerator  for few hours, or overnight. Add the dressing, dried shrimp and peanuts at the last minute, then toss and serve.