Thai name: Som Tam Tua Kaek
There are those that would insist that som tam can only be made with green papaya, but in fact Thais have created an almost infinite number of variations on the dish, using a variety of fruits and vegetables. This one offers an interesting way to dress up a simple vegetable like fresh green beans.
String Bean Som Tam
Ingredients
| French / String Beans | 2 c | Blanched |
| Roasted Peanuts | 2 Tbl | Crushed |
| Sugar | 1 Tbl | |
| Lime Juice | 3 Tbl | (2 limes) |
| Tamarind Paste | 2 Tbl | (optional) |
| Mouse dropping chilies | 6 – 10 | Minced |
| Garlic | 8 cloves | Minced |
| Cherry tomatoes | 8 | Quartered |
| Dried Shrimp | 2 Tbl | (optional) |
Preparation Method
- Blanch the green beans by boiling them for just a minute or two, and then drain them and let them cool.
- Stir together the lime juice and sugar. It’s usually better to set it aside for a few minutes or more to give the juice time to dissolve the sugar. Stir in the tamarind sauce, chilies and garlic.
- Pour the dressing over the beans and stir to mix lightly, then pour the mixture onto a serving dish.
- Sprinkle the cherry tomatoes, crushed peanuts and optional dried shrimp over the top.
