Yam Som O is one of my favourite salads to order at restaurants when traveling in Southern Thailand.

This shrimp topped Thai Pomelo Salad recipe is simultaneously crunchy, spicy, juicy and refreshing, the perfect seafood dish to serve on a hot day.

Serve our traditional Yam Som-O recipe as an appetizer at a Thai lunch or dinner alongside your favourite coconut curries, noodles and fried rice.

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How to make traditional Yam Som-O. This flavourful Southern Thai Pomelo Salad recipe is topped with plump shrimp and fried shallots. — Save our Yam Som O Thai Pomelo Salad recipe to Pinterest!

What Is Yam Som O?

Yam Som O, also known as Yum Som-O, translates to Thai Pomelo Salad.

The crunchy and spicy citrus salad is indigenous to Southern Thailand. Since it is so popular across the country it can be found on restaurant menus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

The pomelo’s claim to fame is that it is the largest citrus fruit in the world! It’s the principal ancestor of the grapefruit, a natural, non-hybrid, native to Southeast Asia.

Similar in taste to a grapefruit, the pomelo is less juicy, featuring sturdier membranes that create a desired crunchy texture, perfect for salads. Pomelo is commonly enjoyed during special festive occasions throughout Asia, elevating it to extra special culinary status!

Yam Som-O is traditionally served as an appetizer salad at Thai restaurants. Chunks of pomelo fruit are tossed in a tangy salad dressing prepared with tamarind paste, fish sauce and lime juice.

The salad is then flavoured with thinly sliced lime leaf, fresh mint, fragrant lemongrass and spicy chili. It is typically garnished with fried shallots and roasted peanuts.

Thai Pomelo Salad is commonly served garnished with plump shrimp or tender crab meat.

Ingredients

This flavour-packed seafood salad is prepared with affordable ingredients that are easy to find at your local grocery store or Asian supermarket. Here’s what you’ll need on your grocery list:

1 tsp Canola Oil
150 g Raw Shrimp
2 cups Pomelo
2 Fresh Lime Leaf
1 tbsp Fried Shallots
1 tbsp Roasted Peanuts
3 tbsp Toasted Shredded Coconut
1 tbsp Lemongrass
1/4 cup Mint Leaves
1 tbsp Cilantro
1 tbsp Palm Sugar
1.5 tbsp Lime Juice
2 tsp Fish Sauce
1/2 tbsp Tamarind Paste
1 Thai Red Chili

Remove the flesh of the pomelo and discard the touch membranes and seeds.

Instructions

Follow our detailed recipe card below for easy step-by-step instructions.

Peel the pomelo and separate the flesh from the membranes. Break the flesh into bite sized pieces. Place in a large medium bowl and set aside.
In a mortar and pestle grind the chili into a paste, then add the palm sugar and pound until dissolved. Add fish sauce, lime juice, and tamarind paste and mix until combined.
Saute shrimp in oil in a nonstick pan until crispy on both sides and cooked through, approximately 3-4 minutes on medium heat.
Toss the pomelo salad with the tamarind lime dressing. Add the crispy fried shallots, roasted peanuts, toasted coconut, and lime leaf and toss to combine. Garnish with cilantro and mint.

Thai Pomelo Salad is flavoured with fresh herbs like mint, and lime leaf.

Thai Pomelo Salad Recipe Tips

This mouth-watering salad recipe is quick and easy to make at home. Here are a few tips and tricks to get you started:

We typically like to make this salad during the winter in North America as it’s when pomelos are in season and easy to purchase. If you can’t find pomelo at your local grocery store outside of the winter months visit your local Asian supermarket as they typically import them year round (though they can be 2 or 3 times the price).
The flesh of pomelo tastes like mild grapefruit. Interestingly, grapefruit is a hybrid of the pomelo and the sweet orange. The tough membranes that surround the fruit segments are chewy and bitter and should be discarded along with the seeds.
The easiest way to remove the fruit from the membranes is to use a pair of kitchen scissors to snip the tough ends. You can then easily slide a finger inside to reveal the fruit.
In the dressing we use palm sugar, which is a typical sweetener in Thailand. If you don’t have it substitute with brown sugar.
If you like spicy food, which is what Southern Thailand is known for, keep the seeds of the chili in the salad rather than discarding them.
If you don’t have a mortar and pestle prepare the dressing in a small blender or food processor.
We like to serve Thai Pomelo Salad topped with sautéed prawns or shrimp but you can use lobster or crab if you prefer.
This recipe features simple fried prawns but in Thailand we’ve enjoyed Yam Som-O topped with tempura battered prawns and coconut shrimp, which are decadent and elevate the dish.

Toss Yam Som-O ingredients in a large salad bowl.

What To Serve with Thai Pomelo Salad

You’ll typically find Yam Som-O on restaurant menus in Southern Thailand in the appetizer or salad section.

When traveling in Thailand on my own I often order this salad at lunch all on its own. It’s a well rounded meal as it features nutrient-dense vegetables, fruit and protein-packed seafood.

If eating with family or large group, Thai Pomelo Salad is served as a feast alongside other dishes like coconut curries, noodles and fried rice.

If you’re hosting a Thai-inspired potluck or dinner party you may also like to make these other regional recipes:

Garnish Thai Pomelo Salad with roasted peanuts and fried shallots.

Health Benefits

Our Yam Som-O recipe is packed full of healthy ingredients!

Shrimp is a high-protein food that is low in calories, total fat, and saturated fat. High in vitamins and minerals, seafood has been shown to have numerous health benefits including decreasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, obesity, and hypertension.

A rich source of phytochemicals and vitamin C, pomelo help boost your immune system and neutralize free radicals that cause disease and skin aging. Lemons also protect against heart disease and help improve blood flow to the brain.

Peanuts are rich in protein, fat, and fibre. While peanuts may have a large amount of fat, most of the fats they contain are known as “good fats.”

Coconut is rich in fibre and may also offer a number of benefits including improved heart healthy and digestion. It is high in calories and sautéed fat so be sure to eat in moderation.

Lemongrass is a rich source of antioxidants. It’s an effective antibacterial and anti-fungal agent.

Fresh mint is antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and can have a calming effect on the digestive system. It is also a good source of folate, which supports blood health.

A good source of bone-strengthening vitamin K, cilantro is also rich in antioxidants that help protect the eyes from damage by free radicals.

Tamarind is a rich source of magnesium and contains more calcium than many plant-based foods.

Chili has been proven to help reduce the duration of sickness, prevent heart disease, and promote weight loss.

Thai Pomelo Salad is typically served with seafood like shrimp or crab.

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How To Make Yam Som O Thai Pomelo Salad

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