Som Tum Green Papaya Salad

1 medium dark green papaya
4 garlic cloves
2 green Thai chilies (or to taste)
10 grape tomatoes
½ cup chopped green beans
1 T fish sauce
2 T lime juice
1 T sugar or palm sugar
½ cup peanuts (optional)

Peel the papaya and rinse with running water to remove the acid. Remove the seeds and shred the papaya with a grater. Set aside.

Place the garlic cloves and the chilies in a mortar and mash with a pestle until crushed into chunks. Place the papaya and the remaining ingredients in the mortar and gently combine all ingredients by mixing with the pestle and a spoon.

Serve cold with sticky rice or plain.

This is my favorite Thai Salad. I have made this with carrots instead of papaya and it tastes fantastic. Go easy on the Thai spices if your not used to using thai spices. I will even make it with out Thai chillies and it is fantastic.