Som Tam Is A Popular Thai Dish That Consists Of Shredded Green Papaya, Tomatoes, Carrots, Peanuts, Dried Shrimp, Garlic, Lime Juice, Fish Sauce, Sugar And Chilies.
It Is A Refreshing And Spicy Salad That Can Be Enjoyed As A Snack, A Side Dish Or A Main Course. But Did You Know That Som Tam Also Has Many Health Benefits?
In This Article, We Will Explore The Nutritional Value Of Som Tam And Why You Should Eat It More Often.
We Will Also Show You How To Make Som Tam At Home With Simple Ingredients And Tools. Finally, We Will Answer Some Frequently Asked Questions About Som Tam That You May Have.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Som Tam?
Som Tam Is Not Only Delicious But Also Nutritious. It Is A Great Way To Incorporate More Fruits And Vegetables Into Your Diet And Get A Variety Of Vitamins, Minerals And Antioxidants. Here Are Some Of The Health Benefits Of Som Tam:
- It Is Rich In Vitamin C. One Serving Of Som Tam Provides About 80% Of The Recommended Daily Intake Of Vitamin C, Which Is Essential For Boosting Immunity, Fighting Infections, Healing Wounds And Maintaining Healthy Skin And Gums. Vitamin C Also Helps The Body Absorb Iron From Plant Sources And Protects The Cells From Oxidative Stress.
- It Is High In Fiber. Green Papaya Contains A Lot Of Dietary Fiber, Which Helps Regulate Digestion, Lower Cholesterol Levels, Prevent Constipation And Reduce The Risk Of Colon Cancer. Fiber Also Helps You Feel Full Longer And Control Your Appetite. One Serving Of Som Tam Has About 6 Grams Of Fiber, Which Is 24% Of The Recommended Daily Intake For Women And 16% For Men.
- It Is Low In Calories. Som Tam Is A Low-Calorie Dish That Can Help You Lose Weight Or Maintain A Healthy Weight. One Serving Of Som Tam Has Only About 150 Calories, Which Is Much Lower Than Other Salads Or Snacks. It Also Has A Low Glycemic Index, Which Means It Does Not Cause A Rapid Spike In Blood Sugar Levels After Eating.
- It Is Good For Your Heart. Som Tam Contains Ingredients That Can Lower Blood Pressure And Improve Blood Circulation. For Example, Garlic Has Anti-Inflammatory And Anti-Bacterial Properties That Can Prevent Plaque Buildup In The Arteries. Lime Juice And Fish Sauce Are Rich In Potassium, Which Can Balance The Sodium Levels In The Body And Relax The Blood Vessels. Peanuts Are A Good Source Of Healthy Fats That Can Lower Bad Cholesterol And Increase Good Cholesterol.
- It Is Anti-Inflammatory. Som Tam Contains Ingredients That Can Reduce Inflammation And Pain In The Body. For Example, Chilies Contain Capsaicin, Which Can Block Pain Signals And Stimulate Endorphins. Lime Juice And Fish Sauce Are Acidic, Which Can Neutralize Alkaline Substances That Cause Inflammation. Green Papaya Has Papain, Which Is An Enzyme That Can Break Down Proteins And Ease Digestion.
How To Make Som Tam At Home?
Som Tam Is Easy To Make At Home With Simple Ingredients And Tools. You Don’t Need Any Special Equipment Or Skills To Prepare This Delicious Salad. Here Are The Steps To Make Som Tam At Home:
- Peel And Shred A Green Papaya With A Julienne Peeler Or A Grater. You Can Also Use A Food Processor Or A Blender To Chop It Finely.
- Cut Some Cherry Tomatoes In Half And Slice Some Carrots Thinly.
- Peel And Crush Some Garlic Cloves And Chop Some Chilies According To Your Preference.
- Toast Some Peanuts In A Skillet Over Low Heat Until Golden And Crunchy.
- In A Large Mortar And Pestle, Pound The Garlic, Chilies, Sugar And Dried Shrimp Until Well Combined.
- Add The Lime Juice And Fish Sauce And Mix Well.
- Add The Green Papaya, Tomatoes And Carrots And Toss Well With The Dressing.
- Sprinkle Some Peanuts On Top And Serve.
- You Can Also Add Other Ingredients To Your Som Tam Such As Green Beans, Cabbage, Cucumber Or Mango For More Variety And Flavor.
Tips For Making The Best Som Tam
Here Are Some Tips For Making The Best Som Tam At Home:
- Choose A Firm And Unripe Green Papaya For Shredding. A Ripe Papaya Will Be Too Soft And Sweet For This Dish.
- Adjust The Amount Of Sugar, Lime Juice, Fish Sauce And Chilies According To Your Taste Buds. You Can Make It Sweeter, Sourer, Saltier Or Spicier As You Like.
- Use Fresh Lime Juice Instead Of Bottled Ones For Better Flavor And Aroma.
- Use Roasted Peanuts Instead Of Raw Ones For More Crunchiness And Nuttiness.
- Serve Som Tam Immediately Or Refrigerate It For Up To 3 Days In An Airtight Container. However, It Is Best To Eat It Fresh As It May Lose Its Crunchiness And Flavor Over Time.
- Enjoy Som Tam With Sticky Rice, Grilled Chicken, Fried Fish Or Other Dishes For A Complete Meal.
The History And Origin Of Som Tam
Som Tam Is Believed To Have Originated In Laos, Where It Is Called Tam Mak Hoong. It Was Brought To Thailand By The Lao People Who Migrated To The Northeastern Region Of Isan.
Som Tam Became Popular Among The Local People Who Adapted It To Their Own Taste And Ingredients. Som Tam Is Now Considered A National Dish Of Thailand And Is Widely Available Throughout The Country.
It Is Also Popular In Other Southeast Asian Countries Such As Cambodia, Vietnam And Malaysia.
How Som Tam Compares With Other Similar Dishes
Som Tam Is Similar To Other Dishes That Use Shredded Or Chopped Fruits Or Vegetables As The Main Ingredient And Dress Them With A Tangy And Spicy Sauce. Some Examples Are:
- Coleslaw: A Salad Made With Shredded Cabbage And Carrots And Dressed With Mayonnaise, Vinegar, Sugar And Salt. It Is A Common Side Dish In American Cuisine And Can Be Served With Sandwiches, Burgers Or Fried Chicken.
- Kimchi: A Fermented Dish Made With Cabbage And Other Vegetables And Seasoned With Garlic, Ginger, Chili, Salt And Fish Sauce. It Is A Staple Food In Korean Cuisine And Can Be Eaten As A Side Dish, A Main Dish Or An Ingredient In Soups, Stews Or Pancakes.
- Salsa: A Sauce Or Dip Made With Chopped Tomatoes, Onions, Chilies, Cilantro, Lime Juice And Salt. It Is A Common Condiment In Mexican Cuisine And Can Be Served With Tortilla Chips, Tacos, Burritos Or Nachos.
How To Customize Som Tam To Your Liking
Som Tam Is A Versatile Dish That Can Be Customized To Your Liking By Adding Or Omitting Ingredients Or Adjusting The Seasoning. Here Are Some Ways To Customize Som Tam:
- If You Don’t Like Fish Sauce Or Dried Shrimp, You Can Replace Them With Soy Sauce And Vegan Shrimp Or Leave Them Out Altogether.
- If You Want To Make Som Tam Less Spicy, You Can Use Fewer Chilies Or Remove Their Seeds Before Chopping Them.
- If You Want To Make Som Tam Sweeter, You Can Add More Sugar Or Use Palm Sugar Instead Of White Sugar.
- If You Want To Make Som Tam Healthier, You Can Use Less Sugar And Oil Or Use Honey And Olive Oil Instead.
- If You Want To Add More Protein To Som Tam, You Can Add Grilled Chicken, Fried Tofu, Boiled Eggs Or Canned Tuna.
More Variations Of Som Tam
There Are Many Variations Of Som Tam In Thailand And Other Countries. Some Of The Common Ones Are:
- Som Tam Thai: The Classic Version With Green Papaya, Tomatoes, Peanuts, Dried Shrimp, Garlic, Lime Juice, Fish Sauce, Sugar And Chilies.
- Som Tam Lao: A Version From Laos That Uses Fermented Fish Sauce (Padaek) Instead Of Regular Fish Sauce And Adds Crab, Eggplant And Long Beans.
- Som Tam Polamai: A Version With Mixed Fruits Such As Apple, Pineapple, Grapes And Orange Instead Of Green Papaya.
- Som Tam Pu: A Version With Salted Crab That Adds A Briny And Crunchy Texture To The Salad.
- Som Tam Tod: A Version With Deep-Fried Green Papaya Strips That Are Crispy And Chewy.
Some Other Variations Of Som Tam Are:
- Som Tam Mamuang: A Version With Green Mango Instead Of Green Papaya That Adds A Sour And Tart Flavor To The Salad.
- Som Tam Khao Pod: A Version With Corn Instead Of Green Papaya That Adds A Sweet And Juicy Flavor To The Salad.
- Som Tam Sua: A Version With Noodles Instead Of Green Papaya That Adds A Soft And Chewy Texture To The Salad.
- Som Tam Kai Kem: A Version With Salted Eggs Instead Of Dried Shrimp That Adds A Salty And Creamy Flavor To The Salad.
Conclusion
Som Tam Is A Delicious And Nutritious Dish That Can Offer Many Health Benefits Such As Boosting Immunity, Lowering Cholesterol, Reducing Inflammation And More.
It Is Easy To Make At Home With Simple Ingredients And Tools And Can Be Customized To Your Liking.
You Can Enjoy Som Tam As A Snack, A Side Dish Or A Main Course With Other Dishes For A Complete Meal.
Som Tam Is A Great Way To Incorporate More Fruits And Vegetables Into Your Diet And Get A Variety Of Vitamins, Minerals And Antioxidants.
Try Making Som Tam At Home Today And Experience The Refreshing And Spicy Taste Of This Thai Salad.