Som Tam – Thai Raw Green Papaya Salad

Som Tam – A green papaya salad  so flavorful and combines all four tastes – sour, spicy, sweet and salty.

INGREDIENTS

• Raw papaya -1 lb
• Ginger – 1 small piece
• Garlic – 4-5 cloves
• Shallots – 2 small
• Shredded Carrot -(Optional)
• Cherry tomatoes  (Optional)
• Salt
• Lime -1
• Soya sauce- 1 tb
• Chili paste -1 tb (soak the dry red chilies)
• Chopped coriander -1 tablespoon
• Xylitol or agave nectar or honey or brown sugar-  1 teaspoon or as per taste
• Lemon juice – 1 tb
  

  DIRECTIONS:

  1. First wash, peel and cut  or shred the raw papaya like noodles or julienne.

  2.Take a mortar pestle. Add in  ginger, garlic, shallots, crush nicely.

  3.Now add  in soya sauce, lemon juice sweetener and dried  red chilies (soaked in water). Crush lightly to release the heat.

  4.Take a bowl  of shredded papaya, carrots, tomatoes. Now add in this dressing from mortar. Also use the pestle to push the mixture down so that the it is coated and  mixed well.

  5. Add crushed peanuts over the salad.

  6.Garnish with fresh basil or  cilantro whatever is available.