Green papaya salad is loved throughout SE Asia in various forms, and we are pleased to present this detailed summary so you can bring it to your own kitchen. Somtum is a classic Thai dish, commonly associated with the NE (Isaan) area but served all over Thailand including a sidewalk shop found on our walking tour of good eats in Saochingcha area. Somtum is typically prepared three different ways. It can be “Somtum Thai” which has peanuts mixed in, “Somtum Bu” which has small pickled crabs pounded in, or “Somtum Lao sai pla ra” which includes the juice of pickled mudfish. Som tum is eaten as a snack as a salad. We also offer a very simple pre-made som tum sauce that you can add to the papaya, for quick preparation.

Papaya Salad Ingredients

Many of these ingredients can be found in Asian or specialty shops. Chili paste with soy bean oil comes in small jars and can be found in most Asian markets. Galangal, a member of the ginger family, is a knobby root that tastes like a cross between ginger and pepper. Tom Yum Soup paste can be found in Asian shops, or you can use Thai Red Curry paste. Kaffir lime leaves have an aromatic citrus-like smell and flavor. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

Spicy Soup with Prawn and Lemon Grass Ingredients

1. 12 medium-size shrimps, deveined
2. 10 mushrooms
3. 1 stalk of lemon grass (lightly pounded and cut into 2″ long)
4. 3 lime leaves
5. 1 teaspoon of salt
6. 2 tablespoons of fishsauce
7. 3 tablespoons of lime juice
8. 6 hot peppers (pounded lightly)
9. 4 cups of water
10. 1/2 cup of roughly cut coriander leaves

Spicy Soup with Prawn and Lemon Grass Preparations

1. Remove the shrimp shell but leave the tails (for good appearance). Then cut open the back of each shrimp to remove the veins. Also clean the mushrooms with water and dry them well before wedging each into quarters.

2. Bring water to boil, then add lemon grass, lime leaves, and shrimps. When the shrimps turn pink, add mushrooms and salts.

3. Remove the pot from heat after boiling. Then season with fish sauce, lime juice, and hot peppers. Serve the soup while still hot and garnish on top with pieces of coriander leaves.