Green Papaya Salad (som Tum)

Total Time: 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 large garlic cloves or 2 small garlic cloves, peeled
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon dry-roasted salted peanuts, more for garnish
• 2 fresh bird chilies or 2 serrano chilies, sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon raw sugar or 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon dried shrimp (optional)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 -2 tablespoon fish sauce, to taste (nam pla)
• 2 plum tomatoes (coarsely chopped) or 1 large round tomatoes (coarsely chopped) or 8 grape tomatoes (coarsely chopped)
• 1/2 lb long beans, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch lengths (optional)
• 1 papaya, small to medium, green and unripe (see note)
• lettuce, for serving (optional)

Recipe

• 1 in a blender or mortar, blend or pound garlic, salt, peanuts, chilies, sugar and shrimp (if using) into a paste. transfer to a large bowl and mix in lime juice and fish sauce. use a spoon (or the mortar) to lightly crush tomatoes and beans (if using), then add to bowl and mix lightly.
• 2 peel and coarsely grate or shred papaya, discarding seeds and inner membrane. there should be 4 to 6 cups.
• 3 add papaya to bowl and lightly but thoroughly toss together. taste for seasoning. mound in a bowl (if desired, line bowl with lettuce leaves beforehand). sprinkle with peanuts and serve.
• 4 note: if green papaya is unavailable, use an equivalent amount of coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots).