Is raw pickled crab safe to eat?

When bought from a reputable source and consumed fresh, it is considered safe in Thai food culture. If uncertain, opt for the version without the raw crab.

salad

Som Tum Poo Plara

ส้มตำปูปลาร้า

Very Hot

Som Tum Poo Plara is the most intensely flavoured regional variant of green papaya salad — made with raw pickled blue crab and fermented fish (plara) alongside the standard green papaya ingredients.

Key Ingredients

green papaya
raw pickled crab
fermented fish sauce (plara)
long beans
bird's eye chilli

Where to Try It

Authentic Isaan restaurants and street stalls in northeast Thailand and Bangkok's Isaan food areas.

Tips

This is not for the timid — the fermented fish sauce (plara) gives it a funky, intensely savoury depth that polarises newcomers. Try the milder som tum Thai first.

Frequently Asked Questions

salad

Som Tum Poo Plara

ส้มตำปูปลาร้า

Very Hot

Key Ingredients

green papaya
raw pickled crab
fermented fish sauce (plara)
long beans
bird's eye chilli

Where to Try It

Authentic Isaan restaurants and street stalls in northeast Thailand and Bangkok's Isaan food areas.

Tips

This is not for the timid — the fermented fish sauce (plara) gives it a funky, intensely savoury depth that polarises newcomers. Try the milder som tum Thai first.