Som Tam Salad

So I start with my Thai evening recipes. The most popular Thai salad Som - Tam which basically means pounded or grated papaya. Originally,  a salad of grated papaya, beans, hot chillies, prawns, chicken and peanuts. The vegetarian Som-Tam is a different, fresh, crunchy and tasty start to a thai evening.

Serves 4 -5. Preparation Time: 20 mins. Cooking Time: Nil

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup green papaya, grated (1 small sized)
1/2 cup cowpea beans, finely chopped (chawli, yardlong beans; 1 thin bunch)
3/4 cup roasted peanuts, pounded coarsely (salted will do)
1/2 cup coriander, chopped
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp tamarind pulp
4 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tbsp soya sauce
2 tbsp green chillies, crushed
salt as per taste

For Garnish:
1 tbsp crushed peanuts

Method:

1. Grate the papaya. Finely & thinly chop the beans. Pound the peanuts roughly. We do not need a powder, hence be careful about the texture while crushing it.

2. Now in a small bowl, mix the dressing, soya sauce, tamarind pulp, brown sugar and salt. 

3. In the salad bowl, mix the papaya, beans, chillies, coriander, peanuts, garlic and the dressing. Toss it well several times. 

Top it with some crushed peanuts! So simple.. its ready!! Enjoy!! 

Notes & Tips:

1. You can substitute brown sugar for normal white sugar.

2. I hand chopped the beans, but you may use a food processor to roughly chop them. 

3. For Jains: Omit the garlic. It wont make much difference.