Som Tum, also spelled Som Tam or Som Tum, is a popular Thai salad known for its vibrant and refreshing flavors. The highlight of this salad is green papaya, which is shredded and combined with a mix of other ingredients to create a delightful balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy tastes.

Here's a basic recipe for Som Tum:

Ingredients:

• 1 medium-sized green papaya, peeled and shredded
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2-3 Thai bird's eye chili peppers, finely chopped (adjust to taste)
• 2-3 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1-2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1-2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon palm sugar or brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
• 1-2 tablespoons dried shrimp (optional)
• Green beans, cut into 2-inch pieces (optional)
• Carrot, shredded (optional)
• Cherry tomatoes, additional lime wedges, and cilantro for garnish

Instructions:

Prepare the Papaya:

• Peel the green papaya and shred it using a grater or a julienne peeler. Place the shredded papaya in a large mixing bowl.

Make the Dressing:

• In a separate bowl, mix together minced garlic, chopped Thai chili peppers, fish sauce, lime juice, and palm sugar. Adjust the quantities to achieve the desired balance of flavors – sweet, sour, salty, and spicy.

Toss the Salad:

• Pour the dressing over the shredded papaya. Toss the ingredients together to ensure the papaya is well coated with the dressing.

Add Additional Ingredients:

• Add halved cherry tomatoes, roasted peanuts, dried shrimp (if using), green beans (if using), and shredded carrot (if using) to the salad. Toss everything together to combine.

Adjust Seasoning:

• Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning if needed. You can add more fish sauce, lime juice, or sugar according to your preference.

Serve:

• Transfer the Som Tum to a serving plate and garnish with additional cherry tomatoes, lime wedges, and cilantro.