Tam Sua (Thai Papaya Salad with Noodles)

Ingredients

• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 chilies (adjust to taste)
• 3 tablespoons fermented fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons tamarind paste
• 1 tablespoon palm sugar
• 1 small lime
• 1/4 cup small tomatoes (sliced)
• 2/3 cup green papaya (shredded)
• 1 1/2 cups fresh rice vermicelli (see notes)
• 5 culantro leaves (chopped)
• 1 handful bean sprouts

Instructions

1. 1

   Prep the papaya. Peel and shred the green papaya into thin strips.

2. 2

   Crush garlic and chilies. In a mortar, pound the garlic and chilies until roughly crushed.

3. 3

   Make the dressing. Add fish sauce, fermented fish sauce, tamarind paste, palm sugar, and lime juice. Mix and press until the sugar dissolves.

4. 4

   Add tomatoes. Add the tomatoes and gently bruise them to release their juices.

5. 5

   Add papaya. Add the shredded papaya and mix until well coated.

6. 6

   Add noodles. Add the rice vermicelli and gently combine.

7. 7

   Finish and serve. Add culantro and bean sprouts, toss lightly, and serve right away.