Veg Som Tom Salad (Papaya Salad Thai style)

Thai papaya salad, also called "som tum" or "som tam" is a fun and spicy side dish. This is made from shredded unripe papaya. Som Tom was listed at number 46 on World's 50 most delicious foods compiled by CNN Go in 2011. Although in Thai cuisine, papaya salad is usually made with fish sauce and shrimp, this vegetarian recipe has plenty of flavour as well. If you prefer a spicier dish, you can add even more chillies.

Ingredients Serves 4
3 cups hard raw papaya shredded
1/2 cup carrot shredded
1/2 cup tender french beans finely sliced & steamed
1/4 cup peanuts (whole & roasted)
1/2 cup cherry tomato cut

For Tamarind Chilli Dressing
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp palm sugar or white sugar
2 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves
1 tbsp tamarind pulp
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp red chilli flakes
some few green/ red chillies (as per taste and finely chopped)
salt to taste

Method
Mix all the ingredients of the dressing together.
Put papaya and other ingredients in a bowl.
Pour the dressing and mix well.
Pound a little with potato masher.
Cover with a cling film & chill for at least an hour so that the flavours penetrate.
Serve by itself as a starter or as salad.

Tips
* You can add garlic to dressing (the garlic & chilies are mashed together first with the mortar & pestle).
* Make sure you use unripe & hard green papaya.
* If you don't have cherry tomatoes, then add normal tomato deseeded & cut into 8 pieces.
* Can replace peanuts with roasted cashew nuts.
* Can skip steaming of French Beans & add them as it is.
* Can replace French Beans with any other green bean of your choice.
* Can use little honey along with sugar or use just honey.