World Flavors Cookbook

Tam Mak Hoong (Green Papaya Salad)

The Lao original green papaya salad — more sour and fermented than Thai som tam, pounded with crab paste and padaek (fermented fish).

Cuisine: Laos

Ingredients

• 2 cups green papaya, shredded
• 4 bird eye chilies
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 tbsp padaek (fermented fish sauce) or fish sauce
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tsp palm sugar
• 6 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 4 long beans, cut
• 2 tbsp roasted peanuts

Instructions

1. Pound chilies and garlic in a mortar to a rough paste.
2. Add palm sugar, padaek, and lime juice.
3. Add green beans — pound briefly to bruise.
4. Add papaya and pound and toss together.
5. Add tomatoes. Toss gently.
6. Top with peanuts. Serve with sticky rice.