Description
Thai Pomelo & Prawn Salad, also known as Yam Som O, is a classic Thai dish that embodies the key principles of Thai cooking: balance and contrast. The salad combines the mild, slightly sweet taste of pomelo with succulent prawns, topped with a zesty lime dressing. The combination of fresh herbs, toasted coconut flakes, roasted peanuts, and optional fried shallots enhances the textures and flavors. It’s a salad that offers a refreshing and satisfying eating experience with every bite.
Ingredients
Salad:
1 medium pomelo (or substitute with pink grapefruit/orange if unavailable)
200 g (7 oz) prawns, peeled & deveined (boiled or grilled)
2 tbsp toasted coconut flakes
2 tbsp roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
2 tbsp fried shallots (optional, but traditional)
Fresh herbs: a handful of mint leaves + cilantro
Dressing:
2 tbsp lime juice (freshly squeezed)
1 tbsp fish sauce (or soy sauce for pescatarian/vegan)
1 tbsp palm sugar (or brown sugar)
1 small red chili, finely sliced (adjust to taste)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp shrimp paste (optional, for authentic flavor)
Instructions
Prepare pomelo: Peel and segment the pomelo, removing membranes. Break flesh into bite-sized chunks.
Cook prawns: Boil or grill prawns until just cooked (2–3 minutes). Cool slightly.
Make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk lime juice, fish sauce, palm sugar, chili, garlic, and shrimp paste (if using) until sugar dissolves.
Assemble salad: In a large bowl, gently toss pomelo, prawns, toasted coconut, peanuts, and herbs with dressing.
Garnish: Top with fried shallots and extra mint before serving.
Notes
This Thai Pomelo & Prawn Salad is light, vibrant, and bursting with zesty flavors. Perfect as a refreshing starter or a healthy main, it combines sweet, tangy, and savory notes for a truly memorable dish. Serve chilled for the best experience.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Tossed / Lightly cooked
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: Moderate
Keywords: Yam Som O, Thai prawn salad, Thai pomelo salad, Thai shrimp salad, pomelo salad with prawns