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Som Tum Phuket — traditional dish from Phuket, Thailand
Starter Fish & Seafood

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥140kcal
💪5gProtein
🌾23gCarbs
🥑6gFat
🌿3gFibre
⚖️200 gServing

* Per serving · 200 g. May vary.

Allergens

🐟 Fish 🥜 Nuts

Som Tum Phuket

How to order / say it
Say it ส้มตำภูเก็ต — [som tum poo-get]
Order I'd like a Som Tum Phuket, please.
Locally ขอส้มตำภูเก็ตครับ
Say locally

Spicy green papaya salad that is a staple in Phuket's local cuisine.

Why try it?

Som Tum captures the balance of flavors that Thai cuisine is famous for: spicy, sour, sweet, and salty. It's a must-try for understanding the freshness and the balanced complexity of Phuket's food landscape.

How it tastes

A bright, refreshing dish with a spicy kick, sourness from lime, sweetness from palm sugar, and a salty depth from fish sauce, all mixed with crisp, fresh ingredients.

Origin & History — first documented: 1975

This dish originated from northeastern Thailand but has evolved uniquely in Phuket with local influences, making it a distinct version of the traditional papaya salad since the late 20th century.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🥕 200 g green papaya
  • 🧂 3 pcs chili peppers
  • 🍋 1 lime
  • 🍯 1 tbsp palm sugar
  • 🥣 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 🥜 20 g peanuts

Method

  1. 1 Peel and julienne the green papaya into long strips.
  2. 2 In a mortar, pound chili peppers and garlic to release flavors.
  3. 3 Add palm sugar, fish sauce, and lime juice to taste.
  4. 4 Toss the papaya with the dressing and crushed peanuts.
  5. 5 Serve garnished with whole lime wedges and fresh herbs.
All Asia recipes — Thailand — Phuket — Som Tum Phuket
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