Green papaya salad is a spicy salad made from shredded unripe papaya, known as tam som or tam mak hoong in Laos, characterized by bold sour, spicy, salty and slightly sweet flavors, and believed to have been created by the Lao people as one of the national dishes of Laos. The dish spread through Thailand's Isan region, where the predominantly ethnic Lao population calls it som tam, and from there throughout Thailand, becoming a staple of Thai cuisine and also gaining popularity in Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Facts
Origin RegionSourced to the subject's own account Origin Period, To (Year)Sourced to the subject's own accountLao politician Katay Don Sasorith recounted the dish as an already established favorite Lao dish during his primary school years in the 1910s in his memoir, the earliest firm documentation found; 1919 marks the end of that decade as a representative bound, not an exact year. Open Questions
Origin Period, From (Year)Sourced to the subject's own accountPapaya and chili pepper, key ingredients of the dish, were introduced to Southeast Asia by Spanish and Portuguese explorers in the 17th century via the Columbian Exchange; this is the earliest possible bound for the dish, not a documented invention date. When papaya specifically reached Laos is unknown. Connections
Uses Ingredient
Source Green Papaya Salad (Wikipedia)
Source Green Papaya Salad (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Green Papaya Salad (Wikipedia)
Wikipedialead section
It is believed to have been created by Lao people and is considered one of the national dishes of Laos.
History section
Papayas and chili peppers were introduced to Southeast Asia by the Spanish and Portuguese explorers in the 17th century from the Americas in the Columbian Exchange.
lead section, national-dish clause
It is believed to have been created by Lao people and is considered one of the national dishes of Laos.
History section, Columbian Exchange clause
Papayas and chili peppers were introduced to Southeast Asia by the Spanish and Portuguese explorers in the 17th century from the Americas in the Columbian Exchange.
History section, Katay Don Sasorith clause
Green papaya salad was mentioned as a favorite Lao dish by a former Lao politician, Katay Don Sasorith (1904-1959), in a memoir recounting his experience during his primary school years in 1910s.
lead section, salad definition clause
Green papaya salad is a spicy salad made from shredded unripe papaya.
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