Authentic Thai Som Tam Pla Ra Recipe: A Spicy and Tangy Delight

Ingredients

1 cup of shredded green papaya
2 tablespoons of Pla Ra (fermented fish sauce)
2 cloves of garlic
3 bird's eye chilies
1 tablespoon of fish sauce
1 tablespoon of lime juice
1 tablespoon of palm sugar
2 cherry tomatoes
2 long beans (also known as snake beans)
2 tablespoons of dried shrimps
2 tablespoons of roasted peanuts

Steps and instructions

Begin by peeling the green papaya and shredding it into thin strips. Set it aside.
In a large mortar, add the garlic and bird's eye chilies. Pound them together until they're well crushed.
Add the long beans and cherry tomatoes into the mortar and pound them lightly, just enough to release their juices.
Add the shredded green papaya into the mortar. Pound and mix everything together.
Add the Pla Ra, fish sauce, lime juice, and palm sugar into the mortar. Pound and mix until everything is well combined and the sugar has dissolved.
Add the dried shrimps and roasted peanuts. Lightly pound and mix. The goal here is to combine all the ingredients without crushing the peanuts or shrimps too much.
Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning if needed. The final taste should be a balance between salty, sweet, sour, and spicy.
Once you're satisfied with the taste, transfer the salad to a serving plate. You can garnish it with extra peanuts or shrimps if you wish.

Tools for making

Mortar and Pestle - A traditional Thai kitchen tool used for pounding and grinding ingredients.
Peeler - To peel the green papaya.
Knife - For cutting the garlic, chilies, cherry tomatoes, and long beans.
Measuring spoons - To accurately measure the Pla Ra, fish sauce, lime juice, and palm sugar.
Serving plate - To present and serve the Som Tam Pla Ra.

Recipe variations

Add grilled or steamed shrimp to the salad for an extra protein boost.
Replace the green papaya with shredded green mango for a tangy twist.
Include sliced cucumber or carrot for added crunch.
Add Thai basil or cilantro for a fresh herb flavor.
For a vegetarian version, omit the Pla Ra and use soy sauce or tamari instead.
Replace the dried shrimps with fried tofu cubes for a meat-free option.
Experiment with different levels of spiciness by adjusting the amount of bird's eye chilies.
Add a tablespoon of tamarind paste for a more pronounced tangy flavor.
Include chopped red onions or shallots for added depth of flavor.
For a creamy twist, mix in a tablespoon of coconut milk.

Recipe overview

This recipe is for Som Tam Pla Ra, a classic and well-loved dish from Thailand. Known for its vibrant flavors and refreshing crunch, this green papaya salad combines a medley of ingredients to create a dish that's simultaneously sweet, sour, salty, and spicy. The key ingredient is the green papaya, which is shredded and then mixed with a host of other ingredients, including bird's eye chilies, garlic, long beans, cherry tomatoes, dried shrimps, and roasted peanuts. The salad is then dressed with a pungent dressing made with Pla Ra, a type of fermented fish sauce that gives the dish its unique flavor. Making Som Tam Pla Ra is quite an experience as it involves pounding and mixing the ingredients together in a large mortar, which not only helps to combine everything but also releases the juices of the ingredients to create a more flavorful dish. It's a dish that's both satisfying to make and to eat. So if you're ready for an adventure in Thai cuisine, let's get started!

Common questions

Can I substitute Pla Ra (fermented fish sauce) with regular fish sauce? Yes, you can substitute Pla Ra with regular fish sauce if you can't find Pla Ra. However, note that Pla Ra has a stronger and more pungent flavor, so the taste of the final dish may differ slightly.
Is it possible to make Som Tam Pla Ra vegetarian or vegan? Yes, you can make a vegetarian or vegan version of Som Tam Pla Ra by omitting the Pla Ra and using a vegetarian or vegan fish sauce substitute. Additionally, make sure to check the ingredients of the fish sauce substitute to ensure it aligns with your dietary preferences.
Can I adjust the spiciness of the salad? Absolutely! You can adjust the spiciness of Som Tam Pla Ra by adding more or fewer bird's eye chilies. If you prefer a milder taste, you can reduce the number of chilies or remove the seeds before pounding them in the mortar.
What are some common variations or additions to Som Tam Pla Ra? Some common variations or additions to Som Tam Pla Ra include adding raw vegetables like carrots or cucumber for extra crunch, adding fermented crab (Pu Pla Ra) for a different flavor profile, or adding tamarind paste for a tangy twist.
What can I serve Som Tam Pla Ra with? Som Tam Pla Ra is often served as a standalone dish or as part of a traditional Thai meal. You can enjoy it with sticky rice, grilled chicken (Gai Yang), or other Thai dishes like Pad Thai or Tom Yum soup.

Serving dishes and utensils

Mortar and Pestle - A traditional Thai kitchen tool used for pounding and grinding ingredients.
Peeler - To peel the green papaya before shredding.
Knife - For chopping garlic and cutting vegetables.
Serving Plate - A plate or platter to present and serve the Som Tam Pla Ra.

Origin stories

Som Tam Pla Ra is a popular dish hailing from the Northeast region of Thailand, also known as Isan. The dish is a testament to the region's resourcefulness and mastery in creating diverse and dynamic flavors from simple, readily available ingredients. The star ingredient of this dish, green papaya, is a fruit that is plentiful in Thailand's tropical climate. It is harvested before it has fully ripened, yielding a crisp texture and a mildly sweet flavor that serves as a perfect canvas for the pungent Pla Ra, fiery chilies, and other robust flavors of the dish. The use of a mortar and pestle in preparation is also a nod to the cooking traditions of the region, where these tools are used to release the most potent flavors from each ingredient. In fact, "Som Tam" directly translates to "sour pounded," reflecting the sour flavor from the lime juice and the unique preparation method of this beloved salad.

Disclaimer: This recipe was not created by humans and we cannot ensure that it will turn out as expected. We do not guarantee or take any liability for the accuracy of this recipe (including steps, ingredients, nutritional information, and all sections on this page). You should check to make sure you are not allergic to any ingredients and take safety precautions while making this. The images on this page are generated by AI and may not accurately represent the result of making this recipe.