Som Tam (papaya salad)

I first discovered this salad 2 years ago in Thailand. It is fresh, tangy from citrus, and usually loaded with chilli and garlic. The main bulk of it includes green papaya, and then whatever else you want such as carrot, long beans, tomato wedges etc. It seems to be popular here in Laos too, but they sometimes add shrimp paste, which makes it way too salty for my taste. 

 Luang Prabang night market stall. 

A better salad which I got in a restaurant in 4000 islands. 

Som Tam (serves 1-2)

1 cup shredded green papaya (best on the finest shred on a mandolin / or buy pre-shredded in asian stores)

1/3 cup shredded carrots OR 2 inch long cuts of long bean

1 tomato cut into 6 wedges

2 TBSP peanuts

1-2 hot thai chilli
2-3 gloves of garlic
1 TBSP lemon juice
2 tsp sugar
1 TBSP fish sauce
1/4 tsp salt

Mash chili and garlic in mortar or however you want, then add lemon juice, sugar, sauces, tomato and salt and mix together. Add everything else and dress with peanuts for presentation.

Oh! and don't discard the papaya seeds, but add them to the salad. They look great and have a bold pepper taste.

Luang Prabang 

Laos