Som Tam

Method

1. Peel 0.5 green papaya with a swivel peeler and rinse off the milky sap. Hold it in one hand and tap the surface all over with a heavy knife in close parallel cuts, then shave off the loosened threads — or use a papaya shredder. You want about 150 g of fine threads. Drop them into a bowl of iced water for 10 minutes so they crisp up, then drain and pat dry.
2. Cut 2 yard-long beans into 3 cm lengths and halve 3 cherry tomatoes. Rinse 1 tbsp dried shrimp in warm water and drain.
3. In a deep clay mortar, pound 1 clove garlic and 2 bird's eye chillies with the wooden pestle until broken down into a coarse, fragrant paste — about 30 seconds. Add 1.5 tsp palm sugar and pound until it melts into the paste.