Does som tam taste the same wherever you eat it?
No. The chilies, the seasonings and the way sweetness is added differ. If the aroma of fermentation is unfamiliar, it helps to ask first whether pla ra goes in.
Som Tam (Papaya Salad)
Som Tam · ส้มตำ
If you want something crunchy and tangy, try som tam. It is a salad made by shredding unripe papaya and pounding it with seasoning in a mortar. Sourness and heat soak into the papaya, and it goes well with sticky rice or grilled dishes. In Isan, some versions include a fermented fish seasoning, so if the fermented aroma is unfamiliar, ask which kind of som tam it is when you order.
Som Tam green papaya salad, Bangkok, Thailand · Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0
Resized for display
What does it taste like?
Sour and spicy seasoning meets the crunch of papaya. In versions with pla ra, a fermented fish seasoning, you can also taste a fermented aroma. Even with the same som tam, the taste changes with how the seasoning and chilies are used.
If you want less heat, say so before it is made.
Dish basics
- Dish name
- Som Tam (Papaya Salad) · Som Tam
- Thai name
- ส้มตำ
- Type
- Sides & grilled
- Region
- Northeastern Thailand (Isan) · A signature Isan dish · eaten across the country
- Key ingredients
- Unripe papaya seasoned with chilies and a sour ingredient. Peanuts, shrimp and fermented fish seasoning depend on the kind of som tam.
The dish and where it comes from
Som tam is a signature Isan dish and is eaten in many cities across Thailand. Even within Isan, each area has a different kind, so you can compare som tam much as you might compare regional barbecue styles. On a trip to Khon Kaen, eat it with sticky rice and other Isan dishes.
How to order and eat it
- Choose the kind of som tam and ask whether it uses a fermented fish seasoning such as pla ra.
- If you want less heat, say so before it is made. Once the papaya has been pounded with the seasoning, it is hard to take out just the chilies.
- Order sticky rice and other dishes with it and eat a little at a time. You get a different meal from eating papaya alone.
Frequently asked questions
It is a papaya salad, so is it vegetarian?
Not necessarily. Some kinds use fish seasoning or shrimp. If you are vegetarian, ask whether you can eat the seasoning and toppings as well as the papaya.
More dishes and cities to explore
Official sources and references
If you want to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are a good place to start. Ingredients and recipes can vary from one restaurant to the next.
Sharing image credit: Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0