Authentic Thai papaya salad recipe with shredded green papaya, vegetables, and optional peanuts pounded into a bold dressing you’ll love. Learn how to make som tam just like in Thailand, quick and easy in 20 minutes using a mortar and pestle.

Thai papaya salad (som tam) in a ceramic bowl, topped with tomatoes, chilies, long beans, and peanuts, with sticky rice and fried chicken.

🤔 What is papaya salad?

Thai papaya salad is a healthy, refreshing dish made with shredded green papaya, garlic, chilies, tomatoes, lime juice, fish sauce, and peanuts. It tastes spicy, sour, salty, and slightly sweet.

❤️ A note from Praew

The ingredients are lightly bruised in a mortar and pestle to blend the flavors while keeping the vegetables crisp.

Just like many Thai people, I learned to make this summer salad from my mom and grandmother. Over time, I must have made it at least a thousand times. (I eat it almost daily!)

We served this exact version of som tam at my Thai restaurant. You’ll love it because it has the perfect balance of flavors, whether you’re new to Thai food or already obsessed with it! — Praew ♡

Som tam (Thai papaya salad) served in a white bowl with tomatoes, lime, and peanuts, paired with sticky rice and crispy fried chicken in the background.

🍚 Ingredient tips and substitutes

This recipe for som tam makes a basic version everyone loves. Some regional styles add fermented fish sauce (pla ra) and dried shrimp, so feel free to include them if you have them.

Green papaya Choose a green papaya that feels firm with no soft spots and has smooth skin. It should be fully green with no yellow patches; yellow means it’s starting to ripen and will be too soft for shredding.
Yard long beans These are slender, extra-long green beans with a crisp texture and mild flavor, commonly eaten raw or lightly pounded in Thai salads.
Tomatoes Use cherry or Thai pink egg tomatoes.
Fresh lime juice Adds acidity and brightness to the salad dressing
Palm sugar I typically use palm sugar, but brown sugar works as a sub.
Fish sauce Adds umami and saltiness. Use Megachef for a good flavor.
Roasted peanuts

🥗 More Thai salads to try

Thai salmon salad

Serve it as a side, light lunch, or with sticky rice and grilled chicken! If you give this easy Thai papaya salad recipe a go, leave a star rating and comment below. Follow me on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more!

Authentic Thai Papaya Salad Recipe (Som Tam)

This easy Thai papaya salad is made with crisp vegetables and a tangy, spicy dressing. It’s gluten-free, low-carb, and full of authentic flavor.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 5

Total Time 15

Serving Size

Equipment

Measuring cups and spoons
Cutting board and knife
Julienne peeler
Mortar and pestle

Ingredients

Instructions

Shred the green papaya, halve the tomatoes, and cut the long beans into bite-sized pieces.
In a large mortar and pestle, lightly pound the garlic and chilies just until broken down.
Add peanuts plus long beans and gently pound to bruise them while keeping some crunch.
Add sugar, fish sauce, and fresh lime juice. Mix and pound lightly to blend the flavors.
Add shredded papaya and tomatoes. Use a spoon to toss while pounding gently, just enough to soften and combine everything.

Notes

Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and should be considered approximate.

👩‍🍳 How to make papaya salad

Prepare all your ingredients: shred the green papaya, cut the long beans into bite-sized pieces, and slice the tomatoes.
In a large mortar and pestle, lightly pound the garlic and chilies until crushed.
Add the peanuts and long beans and pound gently to bruise them while keeping some texture.
Add lime juice, and toss in their peels. Add seasonings like fish sauce and sugar, then mix and lightly pound to release the juice.
Add shredded papaya and tomatoes. Use a spoon and pestle together to toss and bruise everything until well combined and juicy.