I have recently categorised all my 'Food' posts and I couldn't believe that I haven't posted a som tam recipe. A shocking emission as it is one of my favourite dishes. Traditionally this Thai salad is made with green papaya, I also like the green mango version but you can use other types of fruit too. This one was made with large fresh ripe mangoes (the type most commonly found in the UK).
My Mango Som Tam Recipe
- Dry roast a handful of mixed nuts in a frying pan. Leave to cool.
- Crush two cloves of garlic
- Add a teaspoon of brown sugar or palm sugar and crush that in
- Add the juice of a small lime, you should be getting a nice paste now
- De-seed and chop up 2 fresh Thai chillies. More if you like it spicier.
- Keep pounding and add some fish sauce - about a tablespoon or less if you are not a salt freak like me.
Next make the dressing in a mortar and pestle:
OK that's the dressing done. Now get a nicely ripened mango and cut it into strips. Cut up a few baby tomatoes too and put in a salad bowl with the mango strips. Pour over the dressing. Then put your dry roasted nuts into the mortar and pestle and crush up a bit. Add them to the salad and mix in.
Usually I like to add dried shrimps too but I didn't have any so I served it with some Tean's Gourmet crispy prawn chilli (I seem to serve that with everything these days, addictive stuff).
