Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles
available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Som tam or som
tum also known as tam bak hung is a spicy salad made from shredded
unripened papaya. Som tam is derived from a traditional dish in Laos
called tam mak hoong. Variations of the dish are found throughout
Thailand, as well as in the West, where it is more commonly known by its
Thai version and Thai name. A similar dish is also eaten in Cambodia,
where it is known as bok l'hong. The Central Thai version tends to be
quite mild and much sweeter, in comparison, and often contains crushed
peanuts, and less likely to have padaek or brined crab. These are
typically raw, so the Thai government periodically warns about hepatitis
risk. Dried brine shrimp are also used in this version, commonly
referred to as som tam rama. There are also versions that are made with
unripened mangoes, cucumbers, carrots, and other firm vegetables or
unripened fruits.
