The Other Green Papaya Salad

Actually THE most popular one in NE Thailand

Sawaddee ka 🙏🏼

If your local Thai restaurant only has one type of green papaya salad on the menu, chances are it is what we called som tum thai, which translates to “Thai style papaya salad.”

In Thailand, however, there are many different kinds of papaya salads, but for whatever reason the Thai style is the only one that made it big overseas.

So in my new video, I want to introduce you to som tum pla ra (aka som tum lao) which is super popular amongst Thai people, and is THE most popular type in northeastern Thailand. It is just as easy to make, and in this video, I even share how to make som tum without a mortar and pestle.

Som tum pla ra is more full-bodied and umami, thanks to the addition of pla ra, a type of fermented fish sauce commonly used in northeastern Thailand and Laos (hence its other name, som tum lao).

In Thailand, there are two kinds of people: those who love pla ra in their som tum, and those who don’t. But if you love it, papaya salads made without it will simply not satisfy 😆.

Pla ra has a reputation of being “funky” which is why some people don’t like the way it smells, but I think that’s mostly true of homemade pla ra which is how most pla ra used to be made. But nowadays, commercially produced pla ra are not as pungent and they have herbs and seasonings added, which make them great for beginners.

I didn’t used to like pla ra myself until I tried the modern day bottled versions and now I am hooked! In the recipe post I give tips for choosing pla ra and links for buying it online.