The best thing about living in Thailand is undoubtedly: Thai food! I am a big foodie and Thailand (specially Bangkok) is a paradise for every foodie soul. I love to indulge in all types of cuisines and delicacies here but local street food is always a winner. Be it the famous thai green curry or red curry or fried rice with all local spices and herbs, I’ve relished everything.  My favorite so far is Thai Raw Papaya Salad:  SOM TAM

This salad is full of all possible flavors be it sweet, sour, tangy or spicy. Ingredients required are very easily available and to top it all: it’s very good for health specially for your digestion. Sweet flavor comes from jaggery while tamarind pulp, lemon juice and tomatoes add tangy and sour flavor, chilies are for spicy and peanuts for crunch. Overall an amazing combination of simple ingredients which not just tastes great but aids in improving digestion.

Here’s the recipe for this super healthy, simple and flavorful salad:

INGREDIENTS:

Raw Papaya (Shredded): 2 Cup

Beans (Cut in 1 inch): 1/2 cup

Tomato ( Cut in 1 inch): 1/2 Cup

Garlic: 5-6

Fresh green chili: 4-5 (can increase or decrease depending upon your spice requirements)

Tamarind pulp: 1Tbsp

Lemon juice: 1 Tbsp

Jaggery: 2 Tbsp

Roasted peanuts: 2 Tbsp

Mushroom soy sauce: as per taste (in place of salt) ( you can use regular soy sauce if you can’t find mushroom soy sauce as this is typically a thai local condiment)

METHOD:

Unlike any other salad made in salad bowls, this salad is made in a big mortar and pastle.

Take mortar and put garlic in it. Beat it with pastle a little and add whole fresh chili. Grind it little bit more and add cut tomatoes. Keep beating and keep adding all ingredients one by one. After tomatoes are mashed a bit, add beans and crush them a little. Now add tamarind pulp, lemon juice and roasted peanuts while still beating. Instead of lime juice you can also add cut lime pieces to get extra zing og lemon cover.

Once all the ingredients are added and mixed well add shredded papaya and soy sauce and mix it again using pastle ( and a spoon if you need help)

Mix it well and serve it right away!