Som Tum Taeng — Thai Cucumber Salad

RECIPES, Issaan, Salads, Vegetarian

Som Tum Taeng — Thai Cucumber Salad
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Som Tum Taeng — Thai Cucumber Salad

Course: Issaan, RECIPES, Salads, Vegetarian
Servings

4

servings
Cooking time

10

minutes
Total time

20

minutes

Som tum taeng is the cucumber cousin of Thailand's most iconic salad — lighter and more delicate than the classic green papaya version, but built on exactly the same principles and just as addictive. Cool, crisp cucumber takes the place of shredded papaya, absorbing the sharp, spicy dressing in a way that feels particularly welcome in warm weather. All the hallmarks are here — the pound of chilli and garlic, the cherry tomatoes bruised into the dressing, the roasted peanuts, the balance of sour, salty, sweet, and spicy that makes som tum one of the most satisfying salads in the world. Ready in ten minutes and impossible to stop eating.

Ingredients

  • 1 large cucumber, peeled, deseeded, and cut into thin matchsticks

  • 1-2 bird's eye chillies, adjust to taste

  • 2 cloves garlic

  • 8 cherry tomatoes, halved

  • 6 green beans, cut into 3cm lengths

  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce (or ONOFF Spices No Fish Vegan Seasoning Sauce for a vegan version)

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

  • 1 tablespoon ONOFF Spices Thai Rice Vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon palm sugar (or coconut sugar as a substitute)

  • 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, roughly chopped

Directions

  • Follow the same method as our Som Tum — Green Papaya Salad, substituting the shredded green papaya with cucumber matchsticks. Full method at Som Tum — Green Papaya Salad.
  • The one adjustment worth noting: cucumber releases more water than green papaya, so pound and dress the cucumber more briefly — just enough to bruise the edges and open them up to the dressing without breaking the pieces down completely. Serve immediately after dressing for the best texture.

Notes

  • Deseeding the cucumber before cutting is an important step — the seeds hold most of the water in the cucumber and removing them prevents the dressing from becoming diluted. To deseed, halve the cucumber lengthways and run a teaspoon along the centre to scoop out the seeds before cutting into matchsticks. Young corn, sliced lengthways into thin strips, is another excellent substitute for green papaya and works with exactly the same method and dressing.