Green Papaya Salad (Som Tum)

Green papaya Mixed with fish sauce And chile peppers You bet! It is a wonderful traditional Thai side dish that is exceptionally good with barbecued chicken and other meat dishes.

Ingredients:
4 medium red and green chilie peppers
2 large cloves garlic, skinned
1 cup green or string beans, cut 1" pieces
6 cherry tomatoes, cut each in half
2 teaspoons ground peanuts (optional)
2 tablespoons small dried shrimp
1 green papaya meat grated

Dressing:
5 tablespoons lime juice
3 tablespoons fish sauce
3 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons finely ground dried shrimp

Preparation:
Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl except dried shrimp and set aside. Using a mortar and pestle, pound chilies and garlic to coarse texture. Add papaya, green beans, tomatoes and pound 1-2 minutes longer, mixing with a spoon while pounding. Add dried shrimps, peanuts, dressing and mix well. Serve immediately.

Note: take care when you grate the papaya that none of the portion next to the seeds gets in since it has better taste.