Looking for a refreshing yet bold Thai dish? This spicy papaya salad, or Som Tam, is a must-try! Featuring blue crab and cashew nuts, this recipe delivers a delightful mix of spicy, tangy, and nutty flavors, straight from the heart of Thai cuisine.
Ingredients:
(Serves 1 as a main course or 2 as a starter)
1 fresh blue crab (about 350 g)
½ tablespoon coconut sugar
2 tablespoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 garlic cloves
1 fresh red bird's eye chili (adjust for spice level)
1 snake bean (30 g), cut into 3 cm lengths
125 g green papaya, shredded
50 g carrot, shredded
4 cherry tomatoes, halved
25 g unsalted, dry-roasted cashew nuts
Prepare the Blue Crab:
Clean and cut the crab:
Twist off the claws and legs. Reserve the claws.
Cut the legs lengthwise with scissors to extract the meat. Set aside.
Pull the body away from the shell. Remove the feathery gills and quarter the body with a large knife.
Use a lobster pick or skewer to remove the meat from the cavities.
Marinate the crab:
Mix coconut sugar, fish sauce, and lime juice in a bowl.
Add the crab meat and claws. Let marinate for about 10 minutes.
Prepare the Salad:
Crush the flavors:
In a clay mortar with a wooden pestle, pound garlic and chili until crushed.
Add the snake bean pieces and pound gently to soften.
Combine the ingredients:
Add the crab meat and its marinade (leave out the claws and shell for now). Lightly pound for about a minute.
Add the shredded papaya and carrot. Pound gently, scraping down the sides of the mortar with a spoon to mix everything thoroughly.
Finish the salad:
Add the halved cherry tomatoes and pound gently to release their juices, being careful not to splash the liquid.
Taste and adjust seasoning to achieve the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and spicy.
Plate and serve:
Spoon the salad and its juices onto a serving plate. Top with cashew nuts, the crab shell, and claws for presentation. Serve immediately.
Variant:
Steam the crab meat for 2 minutes before marinating."
Do you like this recipe? It’s taken from a book dedicated to salads, available in our online store.