Somtam Ankit (Somtam English)

[Horizondave]

Porn asked me to buy swede yesterday which I duly did. On inquiring as to what she intended to do with it, as this not normally what a Thai buys, she told me she was going to make somtam

It transpires that some Thais have replaced the expensive papaya with the humble swede. Now this sounded odd at first but I grew to like the idea and once put together it was very tasty, Porn loved it.

I have named the dish Somtam Ankit as I couldn't see this anywhere else. You have your Somtam Isaan (Lao) and your Somtam Thai (the version that many foreigners prefer) but there is now Somtam Ankit.

I paid 50 pence for the swede yet a papaya can set you back many pounds.

If in the UK get your lady to try this version (if she hasn't already), I am sure she will enjoy it and save a few pounds at the same time.

You heard it first here, Somtam Ankit....lol

[AJSP]

17 minutes ago, Horizondave said:

Porn asked me to buy swede yesterday which I duly did. On inquiring as to what she intended to do with it, as this not normally what a Thai buys, she told me she was going to make somtam

It transpires that some Thais have replaced the expensive papaya with the humble swede. Now this sounded odd at first but I grew to like the idea and once put together it was very tasty, Porn loved it.

I have named the dish Somtam Ankit as I couldn't see this anywhere else. You have your Somtam Isaan (Lao) and your Somtam Thai (the version that many foreigners prefer) but there is now Somtam Ankit.

I paid 50 pence for the swede yet a papaya can set you back many pounds.

If in the UK get your lady to try this version (if she hasn't already), I am sure she will enjoy it and save a few pounds at the same time.

You heard it first here, Somtam Ankit....lol

Nice one. Now see the price of Swedes increase  due to this 🤣🤣

[Horizondave]

2 minutes ago, AJSP said:

Nice one. Now see the price of Swedes increase  due to this 🤣🤣

Got to try it, it is good and 'cheap'

I told Porn that we had had swede before when doing haggis, neeps and tatties

Edited June 24, 2020 by Horizondave

[Captain_B]

I think this is quite well known amongst the UK based Thais. My wife has been using suedes and cucumbers for years for Somtam. Never bad to pass on ideas though so thanks for that.

Sent from my SM-J610F using Tapatalk

[john1000]

Swede used extensively in the UK by Thais to make Somtam. When a former GF stayed she was put on to this by some Thai ladies in the market. 

[andyajn]

Thats a new one on me. I will get my GF to try it out and report back.

[Horizondave]

55 minutes ago, john1000 said:

Swede used extensively in the UK by Thais to make Somtam. When a former GF stayed she was put on to this by some Thai ladies in the market. 

Then I will claim that I have named it Somtam Ankit, obviously all the Thais are too busy cooking to name it or too embarrassed to say they can't afford papaya ha ha

[Krapow]

My missus has made it out of various things, found these to be the most nice. 

Have to mention to her about swede, or turnip as we call them.

[Horizondave]

47 minutes ago, Krapow said:

My missus has made it out of various things, found these to be the most nice. 

Have to mention to her about swede, or turnip as we call them.

Swede is a much better option (although I know you guys call it a turnip) and for me has a sweeter taste than it's whiter counterpart, more like Papaya when mixing. 

Edited June 24, 2020 by Horizondave

[CalEden]

Was wondering what Swede was, turnip.

I have always wondered what the obsessive fascination is with SomTom by Thai (mainly Isarn) woman.  "The War Department" Ms Eden eats it almost everyday. Green Papayas are plentiful in the Northwest Pacific Coast.  She uses whole Tilapia Fish internals not removed, rendered down to a stinky brown semi-liquid sludge on the stove for hours. I now make her cook her fish outside on the burner of the BBQ, because of the rancid smell. She spices it down with chili peppers to a barely tolerable heat level on the Thai heat scale. 

Then this Pattaya experience put everything in place (flashback). Took a couple of Peppermint Girls from the corner nude bar. I was doing the nasty to one of the girls, when all of sudden, explosive diarrhea shot out on my balls and legs; the stink too. All over the sheets. She blamed it on the SomTom she had eaten earlier.  

I truly believe they eat SomTom as a way to control their weight. Sort of a eating bulimic way of purging. Rendered whole fish guts, eyes and shit is sure fire way to get diarrhea. That's my theory.  

 

 

Edited June 24, 2020 by CalEden

[Atticus]

4 hours ago, CalEden said:

Was wondering what Swede was, turnip.

I have always wondered what the obsessive fascination is with SomTom by Thai (mainly Isarn) woman.  "The War Department" Ms Eden eats it almost everyday. Green Papayas are plentiful in the Northwest Pacific Coast.  She uses whole Tilapia Fish internals not removed, rendered down to a stinky brown semi-liquid sludge on the stove for hours. I now make her cook her fish outside on the burner of the BBQ, because of the rancid smell. She spices it down with chili peppers to a barely tolerable heat level on the Thai heat scale. 

Then this Pattaya experience put everything in place (flashback). Took a couple of Peppermint Girls from the corner nude bar. I was doing the nasty to one of the girls, when all of sudden, explosive diarrhea shot out on my balls and legs; the stink too. All over the sheets. She blamed it on the SomTom she had eaten earlier.  

I truly believe they eat SomTom as a way to control their weight. Sort of a eating bulimic way of purging. Rendered whole fish guts, eyes and shit is sure fire way to get diarrhea. That's my theory.  

 

 

Did it ruin the mood or did you at least finish the job in true Pattaya style?

[Noble Design]

On 6/25/2020 at 12:04 AM, CalEden said:

Was wondering what Swede was, turnip.

I have always wondered what the obsessive fascination is with SomTom by Thai (mainly Isarn) woman.  "The War Department" Ms Eden eats it almost everyday. Green Papayas are plentiful in the Northwest Pacific Coast.  She uses whole Tilapia Fish internals not removed, rendered down to a stinky brown semi-liquid sludge on the stove for hours. I now make her cook her fish outside on the burner of the BBQ, because of the rancid smell. She spices it down with chili peppers to a barely tolerable heat level on the Thai heat scale. 

Then this Pattaya experience put everything in place (flashback). Took a couple of Peppermint Girls from the corner nude bar. I was doing the nasty to one of the girls, when all of sudden, explosive diarrhea shot out on my balls and legs; the stink too. All over the sheets. She blamed it on the SomTom she had eaten earlier.  

I truly believe they eat SomTom as a way to control their weight. Sort of a eating bulimic way of purging. Rendered whole fish guts, eyes and shit is sure fire way to get diarrhea. That's my theory.  

 

 

I don't get it as well considering that papaya is not a native fruit of Thailand or even Asia, it originated from central America and since the American continent wasn't discovered up until 500 years ago I assume the papaya plant probably didn't make it's way into Thai cuisine up until 200-300 years ago.

[SteveBC]

On 6/25/2020 at 12:04 AM, CalEden said:

 

Then this Pattaya experience put everything in place (flashback). Took a couple of Peppermint Girls from the corner nude bar. I was doing the nasty to one of the girls, when all of sudden, explosive diarrhea shot out on my balls and legs; the stink too. All over the sheets. She blamed it on the SomTom she had eaten earlier.  

 

 

 

Beginning to wish i had not read that, my vivid imagination is working overtime and i'm getting all sorts of images appearing in my mind........

But, such experiences are all part of what makes life interesting....

[lazarus]

My baby mama serving up som tum made with cukes...

[CalEden]

2 hours ago, lazarus said:

My baby mama serving up som tum made with cukes...

Great looking petite Lady! She's got that Isarn nose, that you see a lot of in the Buriram region.

Edited December 21, 2021 by CalEden

[Sangsom]

Carrot also works with som tam

[CalEden]

On 12/21/2021 at 6:39 AM, lazarus said:

My baby mama serving up som tum made with cukes...

The War Department makes her Som Tom in the USA out same brown bowl Baby Mama's using to mix her Som Tom. 

[lazarus]

On 12/22/2021 at 9:43 AM, CalEden said:

The War Department makes her Som Tom in the USA out same brown bowl Baby Mama's using to mix her Som Tom. 

Yeah...those mortars are usually either porous ceramic or wood...soak up the flavor... (& the chilies).

In these photos -- taken at the market in Uthumphonpisai, Sisaket -- are many of the base ingredients for som tum...

The brown liquid stuff in the lower left is pla rha... 

Edited December 23, 2021 by lazarus

[Horizondave]

On 12/23/2021 at 5:46 PM, lazarus said:

Yeah...those mortars are usually either porous ceramic or wood...soak up the flavor... (& the chilies).

In these photos -- taken at the market in Uthumphonpisai, Sisaket -- are many of the base ingredients for som tum...

The brown liquid stuff in the lower left is pla rha... 

My wife has a couple of bottles of the brown stuff, disgusting stuff and not healthy for you.

[Butch]

daft question, well not that daft or I'd not be asking it, but is the turnip / swede first of all peeled , then julienned but not cooked?.

I tend to julienne the green papaya and put it into a large pan of iced water to keep it crunchy, will this work with the sweded as well?.

[nampla69]

2 hours ago, Butch said:

daft question, well not that daft or I'd not be asking it, but is the turnip / swede first of all peeled , then julienned but not cooked?.

I tend to julienne the green papaya and put it into a large pan of iced water to keep it crunchy, will this work with the sweded as well?.

You can make som tam with almost any hardish raw vegetable including root vegetables and radishes. Julienned and not cooked indeed perish the thought.

The salt and lemon or lime juice and chilli plus the pounding cooks and softens it a bit.

The pla ra (fermented mud fish) kills any bacteria and is natures penicillin. Tastes great on spaghetti too ...try it.

For the real thing however it has to be raw papaya (malakor) .....