mrbojangles Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 Hi there, you culanary geniuses, Now the mrs and i are back in the UK, we struggle to get hold of papaya for her Som Tam (i prefer to call it Pok Pok) So could i ask, when you can't get hold of papaya, what do you find is the best veg to use as an alternative? Cheers in advance Mr BoJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratchabuild Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 Hi there, you culanary geniuses,Now the mrs and i are back in the UK, we struggle to get hold of papaya for her Som Tam (i prefer to call it Pok Pok) So could i ask, when you can't get hold of papaya, what do you find is the best veg to use as an alternative? Cheers in advance Mr BoJ Cabbage, carrot, unripe mango. Bought a recipe book in thailand and thats what they said to use in the absence of papaya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbojangles Posted March 16, 2006 Author Share Posted March 16, 2006 Cabbage, carrot, unripe mango. Bought a recipe book in thailand and thats what they said to use in the absence of papaya Cheers for the rapid reply, ratchabuild Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chonabot Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 Cucumber always works for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbojangles Posted March 16, 2006 Author Share Posted March 16, 2006 Cucumber always works for us. Cheers chon. Do you bash it with a knife in the same way as papaya? So that it's in thin strips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chonabot Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 Yes exactly the same way , main drawback against papaya is that it isn't as firm and needs to be eaten fairly quickly as it gets a bit soggy like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutsiwarrior Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 (edited) had an excellent som tam at Jomtien beach with green mango...not much nam pla either... I was shocked to get back to Suphan and imbibe the local som tam lady's concoction (she comes around with a side car every afternoon)... gag, hack and otherwise prostrate from poisoning... to the wife "darling, I thought that som tam was all same same???..." she smiled in evil fashion... Edited March 16, 2006 by tutsiwarrior Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chonabot Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 had an excellent som tam at Jomtien beach with green mango...not much nam pla either...I was shocked to get back to Suphan and imbibe the local som tam lady's concoction (she comes around with a side car every afternoon)... gag, hack and otherwise prostrate from poisoning... to the wife "darling, I thought that som tam was all same same???..." she smiled in evil fashion... Tutsi , I hop you washed yer hands before taking a leak?.................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutsiwarrior Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 had an excellent som tam at Jomtien beach with green mango...not much nam pla either... I was shocked to get back to Suphan and imbibe the local som tam lady's concoction (she comes around with a side car every afternoon)... gag, hack and otherwise prostrate from poisoning... to the wife "darling, I thought that som tam was all same same???..." she smiled in evil fashion... Tutsi , I hop you washed yer hands before taking a leak?.................. you vile man...aren't you supposed to wash after??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sriracha john Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 ... to the wife "darling, I thought that som tam was all same same???..."she smiled in evil fashion... Terrific place in Ban Chang sells over 100 different versions of som tam from their menu... personal favorite is one made from som-o (pomelo) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totster Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 As far as I am aware, you can 'som tam' many things, if you are not sure, then just give it a go. My personal favorites are, Bean (Tam Tua), Cucumber (Tam Dtairng), unripe Banana (Tam Gluay) and unripe Mango (Tam Ma Muang). We also regularly eat a fish version called... 'tam plah' In the past I have eaten Carrot (Tam Carrot), Hua Bua (sorry don't know the english) totster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnh101 Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 Chopped Cucumber and Grated carrot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuchok Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 Chopped Cucumber and Grated carrot. Exactly how many Thais in NZ make it...even in restaurants! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbojangles Posted March 17, 2006 Author Share Posted March 17, 2006 We also regularly eat a fish version called... 'tam plah' Cheers Tots As for the Tam Plah, is that the one that has been blended The Mrs has brought back to the UK, 3 big bags of the stuff and it smells disgusting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbojangles Posted March 17, 2006 Author Share Posted March 17, 2006 Just got back from the supermarket and bought some "Paw Paw" Never heard of it before but it looks like Papaya. Anybody used it before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britmaveric Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 Seen it done w/coconut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolf5370 Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 Papaya is sooooo expensive in the UK (so is dorian - thank god ). I hate cucumber so thats a no no. Green Mango is nice and quite similar. Carrot is sweeter, so not quite the same IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaRoiHenry Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 had an excellent som tam at Jomtien beach with green mango...not much nam pla either... I was shocked to get back to Suphan and imbibe the local som tam lady's concoction (she comes around with a side car every afternoon)... gag, hack and otherwise prostrate from poisoning... to the wife "darling, I thought that som tam was all same same???..." she smiled in evil fashion... Tutsi , I hop you washed yer hands before taking a leak?.................. you vile man...aren't you supposed to wash after??? Methinks Chons is referring to the avoidance of Helmetburn, and possibly ensuring that his manhood does not take on the pungent aroma of said dish after handling. I always wash before and after, and sometimes at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prakanong2005 Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 A pals wife in Ireland finds turnip or swede a good alternative Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutsiwarrior Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 A pals wife in Ireland finds turnip or swede a good alternative this is interesting as it begs the question...can you make som tam with any pulpy vegetable at hand? Accoutremonts such as tomatoes, chiles, nam pla are a matter of personal taste...further investigation is needed... how about a parsnip som tam? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuchok Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 Just got back from the supermarket and bought some "Paw Paw" Never heard of it before but it looks like Papaya. Anybody used it before? Love the stuff. Eat with palma ham and a bit of lemon/lime juice.F...ing excellent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chonabot Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 (edited) Just got back from the supermarket and bought some "Paw Paw" Never heard of it before but it looks like Papaya. Anybody used it before? Love the stuff. Eat with palma ham and a bit of lemon/lime juice.F...ing excellent! When I lived in SA the Papaya was called Paw Paw. However there is also a fruit called PawPAw that is unrelated to the Papaya , also known as the Ozark Banana. Edited March 18, 2006 by chonabot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutsiwarrior Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 had an excellent som tam at Jomtien beach with green mango...not much nam pla either... I was shocked to get back to Suphan and imbibe the local som tam lady's concoction (she comes around with a side car every afternoon)... gag, hack and otherwise prostrate from poisoning... to the wife "darling, I thought that som tam was all same same???..." she smiled in evil fashion... Tutsi , I hop you washed yer hands before taking a leak?.................. you vile man...aren't you supposed to wash after??? Methinks Chons is referring to the avoidance of Helmetburn, and possibly ensuring that his manhood does not take on the pungent aroma of said dish after handling. I always wash before and after, and sometimes at the same time. although I may be a believer in some things I am not a flagellant and do not smear disgusting concoctions on my genitals...hence no possibility of the scenario that you suggest... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jockstar Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 although I may be a believer in some things I am not a flagellant and do not smear disgusting concoctions on my genitals... Not since the last time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totster Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 We also regularly eat a fish version called... 'tam plah' Cheers Tots As for the Tam Plah, is that the one that has been blended The Mrs has brought back to the UK, 3 big bags of the stuff and it smells disgusting. Nah... that sounds like "Plah Rah" (or "Plah Dairk" in Isaan). It is raw fish that has been fermented for about 1 year, with salt, rice husk, and after six months fruit is added. Plah Rah is one of the key ingrediants used to make Som Tam (and many other meals from isaan). "Tam Plah" is made the same way as Tam Malagor, but using fish instead of Papaya. totster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simcity Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 Once i read this resceipt i think was funny : shredded green papaya about 2 cups fish sauce...............2 tablespoons palm sugar...............1 1/2 tablespoons (if not available can substitute it with regular sugar) lime juice...............3 tablespoons tomato (wedged)..........1/2 cups dried shrimps............1/3 cups peanuts..................1/4 cups green chilli.............10 of them fresh garlic.............5 coves Use mortar and crush the chilli and garlic, add shrimps, continue crushing, add sugar, continue beating with the pestle, add the papaya, beat, beat, beat, add fish sauce, beat, beat, add lime juice, still beat, beat, beat, add tomato, beat, beat, beat, add peanuts, beat, beat . you may need to add either sugar, fish sauce, or lime. The final taste on the balance between sweet, (pepper) hot, salty, and sour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marshbags Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 (edited) Once i read this resceipt i think was funny :shredded green papaya about 2 cups fish sauce...............2 tablespoons palm sugar...............1 1/2 tablespoons (if not available can substitute it with regular sugar) lime juice...............3 tablespoons tomato (wedged)..........1/2 cups dried shrimps............1/3 cups peanuts..................1/4 cups green chilli.............10 of them fresh garlic.............5 coves Use mortar and crush the chilli and garlic, add shrimps, continue crushing, add sugar, continue beating with the pestle, add the papaya, beat, beat, beat, add fish sauce, beat, beat, add lime juice, still beat, beat, beat, add tomato, beat, beat, beat, add peanuts, beat, beat . you may need to add either sugar, fish sauce, or lime. The final taste on the balance between sweet, (pepper) hot, salty, and sour. Hiya simcity This is actually a genuine Thai Som Tam my wife tells me. They usually add carrot as well or exclude Papaya and use more carrot. The one we are all familiar with that includes the fermented fish is a Lao/Isaan version. As we all know most Thais prefer the Lao version for some reason. She says the Thai one is more hygienic, tummy friendly and tastes better to a lot of Farang, again depending on what you like. A bit more humour for you, well maybe depending on your outlook and visual memory. I remember sitting at Chai,s old bar in the Soi 7 complex before it was altered. ( Pattaya ) We where watching the football and an English bloke said in a loud voice, " what the f****** hel_l is that smell ? " To a loud chorus we replied " oh it,s only the pok pok lady making some Papaya salad for the young lady to eat that,s sitting with her and pointing to them. ( they where crouched down between the bars with her tasting it as they do. ) He again said in a loud voice " what she,s going to f****** eat it ! , it smells like S*** ." We all started laughing and someone said , yes and she,ll probably have someone like you sticking there tongue down her throat later on. The expression on his face was hilarious and the way he said it, we couldn,t stop laughing at him for some time. The drink just made it funnier than usual as you will appreciate. marshbags Edited March 19, 2006 by marshbags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chonabot Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 Som Tam Bpoo with the little freshwater crabs is one that I tend to leave alone. Memories of crapping through the eye of a needle are still fresh in my mind...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bina Posted March 20, 2006 Share Posted March 20, 2006 in israel we do it with granny smith or other tart green apples Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siamesekitty Posted March 20, 2006 Share Posted March 20, 2006 My mouth is watering as I'm reading this.. Don't forget you can also add meats such as grilled pork (som tam moo yahng)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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