At Chiva-Som, which is a fabulous health and wellness spa in Thailand, they have perfected the art of Spa cuisine. Everyday at the lunch buffet, some version of Yam Yai which is a traditional Thai salad, was available.
There are many ways of changing up this salad by using different vegetables in it or different dressings. I have given the recipe for an alternative dressing below though the fat-free fresh house dressing they make at Chiva-Som is really outstanding.
I’ve also given a recipe for a papaya salad, if you choose to add fresh green grated papaya to the vegetables in this salad.
CHIVA-SOM’S YAM-YAI
Serves 2
Ingredients:
½ cup carrots shredded
½ cup turnip or daikon shredded
½ cucumber shredded
5 tablespoons of Chinese celery (finely chopped – optional)
1 spring onion
½ onion finely sliced
½ tomato de-seeded and sliced
2 tablespoons of chopped roasted almonds
Fat-free House Dressing:
4 garlic cloves
¾ of a red bell pepper
2 coriander roots
1 cup rice vinegar
½ cup honey
7-8 cloves of pickled garlic ( you can buy this at an Asian grocery or make it yourself)
METHOD:
- To make the dressing, place all the ingredients for the dressing in a blender and blend until it is pureed.
- Set this dressing aside –leftovers can be stored in the fridge for later use too.
- In a salad bowl, combine all the chopped vegetables
- Add 2-3 tablespoons of dressing and gently toss to mix
- Garnish with ground roasted almonds and serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving:
Calories: 91.8 kcal
Protein: 2.8 g
Carbohydrate: 13.9g
Fat: 3.1 g
Soya- Lime Dressing for the Yam Yai
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon Thai dressing
- Mix above ingredients well and use as dressing on Yam Yai
Dressing for Papaya Salad
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
Chopped chilies
- Mix above ingredients well and use as dressing on Yam Yai with grated green papaya.
