Thai Green Papaya Salad with Grilled Shrimp (Som Tam Goong Yang)
Crunchy shredded green papaya tossed in a lime-fish sauce dressing with tomato and peanuts, topped with smoky grilled shrimp.
Som tam is one of Thailand's most iconic street-food dishes, built on shredded unripe papaya that stays crisp and almost cucumber-like even after it's dressed. The dressing is a fast balance of lime juice, fish sauce, palm sugar, and chili — pounded together traditionally in a mortar and pestle so the green beans and garlic release their flavor into the sauce rather than just floating on top.
Grilled shrimp turns this from a side salad into a full lunch, adding real protein without much extra fat. Between the shrimp and the fresh vegetables, this plate comes in relatively low in carbohydrates and calories while still feeling generous, which makes it a solid choice if you're keeping an eye on portion size without wanting to feel like you're missing out on flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tbsp olive oil, for grilling shrimp
- 3 cups shredded green (unripe) papaya
- 1 cup green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 Thai chilies, to taste
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp palm sugar or brown sugar
- 0.5 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 tbsp roasted peanuts, crushed
Most ingredients here are everyday market staples across West Africa. A handful of specialty items may be easiest to find at a local open-air market or an African grocery store if you're elsewhere.
Instructions
- 1Toss shrimp with olive oil and a pinch of salt; grill or pan-sear 2-3 minutes per side until pink and cooked through. Set aside.
- 2Pound or finely chop garlic, chili, and green beans to lightly bruise them and release their flavor.
- 3Whisk together lime juice, fish sauce, and palm sugar for the dressing.
- 4In a large bowl, toss shredded papaya, green beans, garlic, chili, and cherry tomatoes with the dressing.
- 5Divide the salad among plates, top with grilled shrimp and crushed peanuts, and serve immediately.