4 Thai salads ranked among world’s top 100 by TasteAtlas

Food guide platform TasteAtlas included four Thai dishes in its Top 100 Salads in the World ranking

TasteAtlas released the world’s top salads on May 6, and Thai food again made the list with som tam, som tam khai khem, phla kung, and yum woon sen. Two som tam types secured the 11th and 19th spots on the list, though their ranking dropped from 6th place last year.

TasteAtlas did not specify the type of som tam in 11th place but it is presumed to be som tam Thai. This variety typically includes green papaya, long beans, roasted peanuts, tomatoes, chilli, garlic, and dried shrimp.

Som tam Thai is seasoned with fish sauce, palm sugar, and lime. This differs from som tam pu pla ra, which includes pickled crab and fermented fish (pla ra). The other som tam variety on the list is som tam khai khem (papaya salad with salted egg). The dish is similar to som tam Thai but with the addition of salted egg.

In Thailand, som tam is a signature dish in northeast Thailand and is also popular among Thai people and can be found in every region of the country. A similar dish can also be found in neighbouring country Laos. TasteAtlas notes som tam khai khem seems to have originated in Thailand.

Phla kung, a spicy salad made with prawns, chopped lemongrass, shallots, kaffir lime leaves, chilli, chilli paste, fish sauce, palm sugar, and lime, takes the 39th spot. The dish offers a balance of spicy, sour, and slightly sweet flavours, complemented by the aroma of herbs.

Another Thai dish on the list, yum woon sen, was named in 46th place. The menu item offers glass noodles and ground pork that are seasoned with a spicy salad dressing. Some restaurants topped the dish with dried shrimp and roasted peanuts.

The world’s best salad goes to Dakos from Greece for the second year running. Other dishes in the top five include mechouia salad from Tunisia, horiatiki salata from Greece, smacked cucumber from China, and ovcharska salata from Bulgaria.