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Bowl of Thai Cucumber Salad (Som Tum Tang) with cucumbers, tomatoes, peanuts, and chili, ready to serve

Vibrant Thai Cucumber Salad (Som Tum Tang) Recipe

Som Tum Tang is a Thai cucumber salad known for its refreshing and vibrant taste. Thinly sliced cucumbers are tossed with a tangy dressing made from lime juice, fish sauce, and palm sugar. This salad is enhanced with Thai chilies for a spicy kick and garnished with fresh herbs and crushed peanuts, creating a delightful balance of flavors and textures. It's a perfect side dish that adds a zesty, crunchy element to any meal.
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Course: Sides
Cuisine: Thai
Keyword: Thai Cucumber Salad
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 80kcal
Author: Susie Thompson

Ingredients

  • 2 large Cucumbers thinly sliced
  • 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes halved( optional)
  • 1 Carrot julienned
  • 1 small Red Onion thinly sliced
  • 2-3 Thai Bird's Eye Chilies finely chopped
  • 2 clovea garlic cloves minced
  • ¼ cup Fresh Cilantro chopped(optional)
  • ¼ cup Fresh Mint chopped(optional)
  • ¼ cup Crushed Peanuts
  • 3 tablespoon Lime Juice
  • 2 tablespoon Fish Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Palm Sugar grated
  • 1 tablespoon Rice Vinegar

Instructions

Prepare the Vegetables

  • Wash the cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, carrots, and red onion under cool running water and pat dry.
  • Thinly slice the cucumbers into even rounds using a knife or mandoline. Halve the cherry tomatoes, and julienne the peeled carrot into matchstick-sized pieces. Thinly slice the red onion into half-moon shapes.
  • Combine all the prepared vegetables in a large mixing bowl, ensuring an even distribution for a balanced salad.

Make the Dressing

  • Mince the garlic cloves finely and chop the Thai chilies.
  • In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic, chopped chilies, lime juice, fish sauce, grated palm sugar, and rice vinegar.
  • Stir the mixture until the palm sugar is completely dissolved, ensuring a smooth and well-blended dressing. This will create the perfect tangy, spicy, and slightly sweet flavor that complements the fresh vegetables.

Toss the Salad

  • Pour the prepared dressing over the mixed vegetables in the large bowl. Add roughly chopped fresh cilantro and mint leaves.
  • Using tongs or salad servers, gently toss the salad until the vegetables are thoroughly coated with the dressing and the herbs are evenly distributed, ensuring every bite is packed with flavor.

Garnish and Serve

  • Sprinkle the crushed peanuts over the top of the salad. For an enhanced crunch, toast the peanuts in a dry pan before crushing.
  • Give the salad a final gentle toss to incorporate the peanuts. Serve immediately for the freshest texture, or let it sit for 10-15 minutes to meld the flavors. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 80kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Sodium: 520mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g
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