Green Papaya Salad (called Som Tum locally) is a Thai staple. Classic, wickedly spicy, and usually made with little crabs, fermented raw fish paste and abundant fish sauce. It can, and often is, made as a vegetarian dish (even in the street markets) but still uses lots of sugar, MSG and more chili than anyone with digestive problems may enjoy.
While many people feel they have to sidestep dishes like this when they have gastric or digestive issues, it couldn't be further from the truth. They simply need to know how to modify and create a gentler version. I'm sharing with you my personal healthful fusion version of Som Tum as part of the 
Green papaya is, in fact, one of the most AMAZING healing foods for cleansing and healing the gastro-intestinal tract and improving digestion. It is loaded with digestive enzymes and a particular healing latex and is one of the few foods whose enzymes are able to bypass the rigors of the stomach acid process and to be effective in the bowel. Papain, the primary digestive enzyme found in papaya, is actually MORE EFFECTIVE at digesting fats than the stomach acid.
Want to know a more about the benefits of green papaya?
https://www.herbalpapaya.com/blogs/blog/why-unripe-green-papaya-is-so-good-for-you
So, over the many years of living here in Asia, I have modified the traditional recipe and methodology, to create a simple, healing salad. From time to time, when I am feeling a bit sluggish or low on energy, I have Healing Som Tum Detox Days.
I eat only this magic healing green papaya salad, from the moment I get up and right through the day, whenever the feeling for food hits me. For 24 hours. With only pure water on the side. Better than a colonic and not disturbing to the bowel flora. Profoundly detoxing without leaving you feeling depleted or low on energy, nourishing and healing to the GI tract and easy to manage while still working. There are even several cafes in Chiang Mai who will prepare this for you specially if you ask very nicely.
YOU WILL NEED:
- Shredded raw green papaya
- A little grated carrot
- Raw green long beans, thinly slivered
- A few small cucumbers, cut into thin strips or slice
- A pile of freshly chopped coriander (cilantro for the Americans in the room)
- A smaller pile of chopped Chinese leaf celery
- A few ripe red tomatoes, cut into nice thin wedges
- Fresh lime juice
- Natural mineral salt
- Prik Bon (dried chili flakes)
- Chopped roasted peanuts (optional)
- Palm or coconut sugar (optional)
Thai style would see you putting all these ingredients in a large wooden mortar and pestle and lightly bruising everything as you stir it. Should be a national sport. Never seen it done? Here, have a peek:
Because most people don't have the right sized mortar and pestle (if anyone even owns one at all anymore outside Thailand), nor the knife technique, I suggest you simply shred, grate and chop everything western style and pop it in a bowl and mix lightly but thoroughly. Why do I use dried chili for this instead of fresh? Simply because for the healing version you want only a slightly spicy edge - enough to stimulate gastric juices and boost metabolism but not enough to see anyone locked in the bathroom for hours.
Your ingredients will look something like this, when all prepared.
Then add salt to taste, a sprinkle of dried chili and be very generous with the fresh lime juice. Personally, I prefer not to use the palm sugar. Mix and serve immediately.
Be sure to chew slowly, mindfully and thoroughly. Good digestion starts with great chewing.
No, it doesn't keep well and is best made fresh each time. On Healing Som Tum Detox Days, you can prepare all the ingredients and keep them separated, mixing only as required throughout the day to minimize kitchen time.
Enjoy!! Your body will thank you and you will be amazed that you can easily detox without fasting, per se, and that the feeling of starving yourself is not necessarily required for cleansing and gastro-intestinal system repair. Me? I'm giving up martyrdom for Lent. Haha. You can take the girl out of the convent but....
Food Is Medicine. Prepare it, Share it.
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