In order to fall in love with Thai cuisine, you don’t have to be in Thailand for a very long time; just try a few dishes, and it will immediately become clear that the taste and smell of lemon grass, galangal, cardamom, coconut milk and chili pepper will remain deep in your memory. for a long time, and the taste buds on the tongue from time to time will persistently demand to please them at least once more :)
all spring, and got hooked on Thai food quite thoroughly. Even where we had a kitchen in our rented accommodation and could cook anything, we preferred to have lunch and dinner in cafes in order to enjoy the incredibly delicious soups, curries and salads to the maximum.
Of course, we have friends who cook their own famous Thai dishes, and we are sure that they are no less tasty than the original ones. Perhaps someday we will take a few lessons and learn how to cook them ourselves, but for now we present 10 of our favorite Thai dishes.
Almost each of these dishes (except salads) can be either vegetarian or with chicken, pork, fish or seafood.
Top 10 Thai dishes
1. Tom Kha
Sweetish soup made with coconut milk. Of all the Thai cuisines, we liked it the most - not too hot, spicy and very tasty. 
2. Tom Yum
This is perhaps the most famous dish in Thai cuisine, and even if you have not been to Thailand yet, you have probably at least heard of this hot and sour soup with lemon grass, galangal and lime leaves. Due to the abundance of spices, the soup has a very specific and memorable taste. True, soup in the Thai sense is significantly different from what is familiar to Russian people - in Tom Yam you can eat almost only the broth (well, and meat/fish if you have any), everything else is added to create flavor and is not edible.
Since Tom Yam is a very spicy soup, rice is offered as an additive to it, more often than to other dishes.
3. Green Curry.Red and yellow curry are also popular.
The basis of this dish is a special paste that consists of chili peppers, lemongrass, lime leaves, basil, shrimp paste and coconut milk.
Green, red and yellow curry are three dishes that are similar in structure and consistency, but differ in the composition of spices and spiciness. Green is the hottest, red and yellow are slightly less spicy. But it’s worth keeping in mind that “less” in this case is a very relative concept, which is why curry is most often eaten with rice (although Thais generally eat everything with rice).
3. Massaman Curry
One of our favorite curries is made with coconut milk, roasted peanuts (or cashews), cardamom, tamarind and fish sauce. Has a spicy and distinct taste and aroma
4. Phanaeng Curry
A bit like massaman, but it has less peanuts and additional shrimp paste.
6. Green Papaya/mango Salad, Som Tum
Green papaya (or green mango) salad with crushed peanuts, green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, dried shrimp, fish sauce and, of course, chili peppers. We were unable to distinguish green papaya from green mango in the salad by taste. Both salads are tasty, but very spicy - it’s almost impossible to eat them without tears :)
7. Pad Thai
Fried noodles with egg, soybean sprouts, fish (or oyster) sauce, peanuts and assorted toppings. Quite a simple, but tasty and very popular dish in Thailand - it can be found both in street eateries and in decent restaurants. Padtai varies in type and composition of noodles, so there can be a huge number of variations.
8. Fried Rice (Khau Phat)
Fried rice with egg and vegetables is one of the most favorite dishes among backpackers, as it is sold on every corner and is cheap. We're not big rice fans, so we only liked one variation of this dish called Khau Phat Sapparot - pineapple fried rice.
9. Sen Khao Soi
This dish is popular in northern Thailand and consists of a soup with deep-fried egg noodles. The soup is also served with lime, onion, chili pepper and cabbage pickle.
10. Roti - pancakes with various fillings (egg, chicken, as well as chocolate, banana and other fruits)
Pancakes are baked not from liquid dough, as in Russia, but from kneading and kneading to a thin, almost transparent state. We are not sure that this is a native Thai dish, but it is prepared in many places and pancakes are very popular among both tourists and locals.
Of course, Thai cuisine is not limited to a set of 10 dishes; in order to list all the dishes, you would have to write a whole book. For example, in addition to the most popular Tom Yam and Tom Kha soups, there are many other soups - very tasty and for everyone
In the south of Thailand, especially in the maritime regions, fresh fish and seafood dishes are very popular
Salads often use not only papaya and mango, but also other vegetables and fruits, such as grapefruit, pomelo, corn and tofu
In addition, there are often situations when in a Thai cafe without an English menu, you have to order dishes whose composition is only approximately understood (but this does not make them any less tasty)
And, of course, you can’t ignore the evening markets, where you can try something unusual - for example, grilled shrimp, kebabs on skewers, as well as all kinds of caterpillars, grasshoppers and other insects, which are, however, mainly eaten by tourists =) We will write about evening markets separately, but for now you can read about.
Chili sauce recipe
Well, as a bonus, some homemade Thai cuisine, namely a recipe for chili sauce, which we learned to cook in Kanchanaburi under the guidance of our Thai friend Adisak.
Adisak’s family has Chinese roots, so for the first dinner he treated us to Chinese-Thai dishes, and having learned about ours, he offered to cook the next dinner together, in Thai style.
We exchanged recipes and told Adisak about our culinary experiments in Bali, and he taught us how to make chili sauce, without which, in his opinion, Thai cuisine would not be Thai (the clever iPad persistently suggests replacing the word “Thai” with “heavenly” - what can we say about people, if even the technology understands Thai cuisine :)
So, the recipe is quite simple, for preparation we will need the following ingredients:
- Green chili pepper – 7 pcs.
- Cherry tomatoes – 7 pcs.
- Garlic – 7 cloves
- Lime – 1 pc.
- Shrimp paste 1/2 tsp.
- Fish sauce 1 tbsp.
- Cane sugar 1 tsp.
By the way, we thought that only in street cafes in Thailand (and in Asia in general) cooks do not wash vegetables, but it turned out that this is not accepted in their culture at all - even in such a decent house, no one even thought of washing vegetables before cooking. This is why in Asia it is better to avoid uncooked food.
To prepare the sauce you will need a mortar; it is most convenient to make such sauces. In Asia, as we noticed, any housewife will definitely have a mortar in her kitchen - even those who have both a food processor and a blender still use a mortar when it comes to sauces, apparently it’s also in their blood :)
Adisak assured that the order in which ingredients are added is very important:
- First, put the chili pepper in a mortar, after cutting off the ends, knead it.
- Next, add sugar and garlic, previously crushed with a knife (to release the juice) and cut into small pieces, knead.
- Then squeeze out the lime juice and add the quartered tomatoes and mash.
- The last step is to add shrimp paste and fish sauce, mix everything thoroughly.
The sauce is ready, it is advisable to cool it before serving :)
Attention: the sauce is very spicy! 
Bon appetit!
For the last month we have been incredibly happy with Indian and Tibetan dishes, and also recently discovered Korean cuisine, although we miss Thai :) What world cuisines do you prefer?
Today I will tell you a little about Thai cuisine. Lots and lots of things have been written about Thai cuisine, but I prefer to try everything myself, which I advise you to do. For me, Thai food is exotic, it's seafood, Exotic fruits and unforgettable, new, unusual tastes. Thai cuisine is interesting, beautiful, sizzling, as if beckoning you to return to this country again and again. In general, Thai food is another way to experience Asia. The abundance of exotic tastes and aromas make Thai cuisine one of the most desirable in all international cuisine. Whether walking around Bangkok, Krabi or Koh Samui, everything around you is persistently reminiscent of these tastes and aromas of Thai dishes. Of course, it’s difficult to fit everything about Thai cuisine into one article, but I’ll try.
Thai dishes
Thais always combine four tastes in food: sour, sweet, spicy, salty. And they add it to literally everything: soup, fish, and dessert.
If you are not a big fan of chili peppers, you can take traditional European food, but there are surprises here too. For example, pizza with sausage, topped with condensed milk. Waffles with jam, sugar and pepper... Salty ice cream with beans and beans... A sour apple in a restaurant is dipped in a mixture of salt and chili pepper and used as a snack.
The amount of pepper that is good for Thais is death for farangs (the local name for Europeans, which does not carry a negative connotation). If you don’t want to get into such a situation, ask for “No Spicy”, then the amount of pepper that they will pour in for you will be quite sufficient for you.
Thai dishes you can try in Thailand
Khao man kai, Khao Man Gai
ข้าวมันไก่
Khao Man Gai is a famous Thai street food. It is a mixture of Hainanese chicken and Thai rice. Khao Man Gai is an original Thai dish that is rarely included in the menu of most Thai restaurants in the West, but is widely known in Thailand itself. For Thais, however, it is national favorite dish. In fact, just the mention of the name of the Thai dish Khao man kai can cause you to hyperventilate in eager anticipation.
And the reason is simple: Thai food is delicious. How can you say no to juicy and tender slices of chicken served with aromatic rice cooked in a rich broth with a unique piquant sauce of ginger, garlic, chili, and soy sauce.
Kaeng phet pet yang, Gaeng Daeng, Kaeng Phet Pet Yang
Red Curry with Roast Duck is a famous Thai dish that is popular in Thai restaurants, especially in the West. This is not a Thai dish that locals usually make at home, but is a festive dish prepared in Thailand for special occasions. To prepare red curry with roast duck, you can use your own homemade curry paste, or use ready-made curry pastes.
Made with chunks of meat, red curry paste, coconut milk and finely chopped kaffir lime leaves, Kaeng Phet Thai is a rich, flavorful dish that excites the taste buds. The amazingly tender meat, soft, sweet and moderately fragrant, makes the heart fall in love with Kaeng Phet.
Ho mok, Ho mok
Kho mok is also a popular Thai food. Ho mok is essentially a kind of fish curry “pate” wrapped in banana leaves. This Thai dish is served with a thick coconut cream topping. Fish pate itself is a homogenized mixture of fish, meat, spices, coconut milk and eggs. This salmon-colored pate is typically pink and can be quite spicy, depending on the amount of chili in the mix. As a rule, the portion of this Thai dish is small, so it is difficult to get enough from one serving. But in this situation there is a way out: it happens that Ho Mok is sold in large portions in the shape of a boat. For a large company - just right.
Typically, Ho mok is eaten straight from the leaf wrapper without a plate or packaging, which is why Ho Mok is a popular Thai dish for picnics and also as a snack when traveling. By the way, if you are interested in new unusual tastes of Thai cuisine, I also advise you to read the article about food in Bangkok.
Som tam, Som Tam
Som Tam is another popular Thai dish. This is a spicy and sour papaya salad that is an exceptional addition to Thai BBQ chicken and rice. Som Tam is a low-calorie Thai dish that is healthy and cheap. It can often be found in restaurants and cafes on the beach.
The Som Tam dish is believed to have originated in Laos, but having crossed the border into the north-east of Thailand, it has been firmly adopted in these provinces as a favorite dish, with most people in the north-east of Thailand eating it at least once a day!
Garlic, chili peppers, green beans, cherry tomatoes and grated raw papaya provide a sweet-sour-spicy flavor that's hard to forget. Thai food Som Tam has many varieties because so many types of vegetables or fruits can be used to prepare it, such as papaya, bean sprouts, banana, cucumber, pineapple, tamarind, etc.
Tom Yam Goong - the main dish of Thai cuisine
Tom yum - business card Thai cuisine. Tom Yum soup (ต้มยำ) comes in several varieties. Shrimp, seafood, chicken, mushrooms, vegetables. The most popular among tourists is with shrimp (Tom Yum Kung) and seafood (Tom Yum Thale). I also really like the white version of this fish soup - Tom Yum Pla, this variety is the most authentic. I like Tom Yum Kung Nam Khon with shrimp - it has added coconut milk. In general, Tom Yam is a sweet-sour-spicy soup in chicken/fish broth with the addition of lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, onions, chili peppers, fish sauce, mushrooms, vegetables, and lime juice. A classic Thai dish. Not everyone likes it.
Tom Kha Kai
Kom Kha is an equally popular Thai dish. Milder than Tom Yum, this famous soup is made with fiery chillies, thinly sliced baby galangal, minced shallots, lemongrass stalks and tender pieces of chicken. However, unlike its more diluted brother Tom Yam, Tom Kha has more coconut milk, which softens it. Fresh lime leaves are also added to this Thai food, resulting in a fragrant soup, in the wonderful Thai tradition.
Pad Thai
Pad Thai is by default an international Thai dish known all over the world! Small, thin or wide noodles along with crispy bean sprouts, onion and egg, fried on the stovetop. The palate is awakened from its slumber by the combination of the quartet of essential seasonings - fish sauce, sugar, pepper and finely ground peanuts - in this exotic Thai dish.
Khao Pad
A popular Thai lunch dish, so simple and delicious - fried rice, herbs, egg, onions, usually served with a wedge of lime and a slice of cucumber. The secret of this simple dish lies in its simplicity. The dish is prepared as if the Thais used whatever was on hand, from shrimp, crab or chicken, chili peppers and vegetables on hand, turning unremarkable ingredients into an interesting dish of Thai cuisine.
Gaeng Keow Wan Kai
Gaeng Keow Wan Kai is another Thai dish. Pieces of fresh chicken, eggplant, tender bamboo shoots, sprigs of coriander, and generous handfuls of sweet basil form the base of this curried dish. The secret to this Thai food is a spoonful of green curry paste mixed with hot, creamy coconut milk. Thai dish Gaeng Keow Wan Kai served with a bowl of aromatic rice.
Yam Nua, Yam Nua (spicy beef salad)
Yam Nua is a savory Thai food. By the way, Thai dishes are called “yam” here. The fresh, fiery taste of Yam Nua is a mixture of onion, coriander, mint, lime, dried chili and tender slices of beef. This Thai dish evokes an invigorating sensation, like all Thai salads.
Kai Med Ma Muang (chicken with cashew nuts)
Kai Med Ma Muang is an interesting dish from Thai cuisine. Tourists go crazy for this dish. Perhaps thanks to the wild contrast in the combination of braised chicken along with roasted cashews, sweet soy sauce, onions, chilli peppers, carrots and mushrooms. This is a simple but incredibly tasty, slightly exotic Thai dish that is worth trying in Thailand.
Pak Boong
Pak Bung is a Thai dish. The main component of this simple dish is the green stems and thin, fragile leaves found throughout Southeast Asia. This Thai dish contains garlic, chili pepper, oyster sauce, fish sauce and black soy sauce. The result is an interesting dish with a subtle flavour, ideal for those who love Thai food but aren't keen on very spicy dishes.
Thai cuisine my review
After reviewing Thai dishes, I would also like to add my review. Thai food is spicy. Not real to me at all! It is impossible to eat it, BUT spicy food lovers will definitely like it! It’s so delicious... if you ask before ordering without seasoning, it will be edible! But even then they (seasonings) are present and felt, but less pronounced than in traditional Thai cuisine.
For those who don’t like spicy Thai dishes at all, there are a bunch of Russian menus and children’s menus in Thailand: dumplings, pancakes, omelet, and okroshka... If you order fish in Thailand, it all depends on where and how it’s prepared. The same seafood can be tasty or, conversely, disgustingly meager.
In Thai cuisine, sugar and peanuts are added to the soup. I like peanuts in soup, but I haven’t tried them with sugar yet. And in general, Thailand is a country of soups - they are sold on every corner.
I saw local potatoes. It grows in the fields, two meters high. Maybe I exaggerated, I don’t remember honestly, but she is mega tall and “sits” deep in the ground! It tastes very sweet, almost as if sugar had been poured in, and it’s huge, the tuber weighs about a kilogram.
Every time we eat Thai food, we order regular boiled rice... Firstly, because I personally don’t get enough of fish, secondly, it’s nutritious and cheap.....
As for meat in Thai cuisine, there is chicken, pork, and beef! I love beef steak; in Thailand it is juicy and delicious.
Regular chicken... Runs around the island, lays eggs... It tastes like ours.
A must-try from Thai cuisine is the local banana pancakes with chocolate. Melt in your mouth! Words cannot describe it, divinely delicious!
Food, in general, can be found for any whim, alcohol too...
Only now we are in a situation where we are on a wild island, there are no shops or markets, and cafes and restaurants are open until 10:00 pm. After that there is no food until the morning! Alcohol is available around the clock.
And I love to eat and suffer at night, but I found a way out! I order food at a restaurant for dinner, and take the order with me, ask me to throw it in the box and happily pound beef and French fries at night.
Thai food in hotels
Meals in most hotels in Thailand include breakfast. “All inclusive” is not here, and it is not necessary! The breakfasts are excellent: our European dishes and Buffet. In addition, there is also some Thai food.
I think when you are in another country, you should try and try to see everything…. Well, or almost everything... Due to this, study the mentality of people, culture, way of life... I had scorpions, and beetles, and spiders, and nasty floating creatures for dinner…. I spent the night in the jungle and on the river, and on the islands and on the mainland... I've tried almost everything. It's worth a try, but then it's not for everyone.
Alcohol and soft drinks in Thailand
Alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks…. Uuuuuuuuuuuuu local rum, beer and wine….. Apparently I’m a pampered girl, but this is disgusting…. Very strong, but cheap. “Inserts” almost instantly! There is good beer in Thailand that is pleasant to drink. Martini, beer, vodka have EVERYTHING! But it’s a little more expensive and the difference is in the English letters...
Soft drinks…. Juices, smoothies, fresh juices. Everything is fruity and natural! This is the topic! True, there are also powder ones, but you can feel them right away! But if it’s natural, then the taste is amazing.
Just today I noticed that even children’s cocktails add a lot of ice... Children drink a lot because of the heat... And it’s a LOT of ice!
Other Thai dishes, which I will talk about in future articles, as well as some photos of Thai dishes. For lovers of extreme food, our top 10 creepy dishes from Thailand.
So, today I talked a little about Thai cuisine. Might be interesting.
Thai cuisine is rapidly gaining popularity all over the world. Unusual dishes, exquisite appearance, delicate balance of flavors - this is what distinguishes the dishes of this amazing country.
The recipes for some dishes amaze gourmets with their exoticism and unusual combination.
Surrounded by countries with rich cuisines, Thailand has adopted many of their cooking methods. Borrowing recipes and improving them to suit one’s own tastes allowed it to soon become a country whose dishes all gourmets want to try.
Many of the types of Thai dishes are influenced by Chinese, Japanese and, believe it or not, European cuisine. Back in the 17th century, Portuguese missionaries brought chili peppers to this country. Since then, chili has become one of the most commonly used spices in Thai cooking.
Main Products
1. Fig. The main Asian agricultural crop, it is the basis for most dishes.
Recipes include the use of only two types of this grain: white fluffy rice and glutinous rice. As a side dish, the first type is eaten with a spoon, into which the rice is placed with a fork. And from the second they roll small balls, which are completely stuffed into the mouth.
Rice is the main component of many dishes.
Sweet and sour rice, stir-fry with rice and spices, liquid rice soup - this is only a small part of what is prepared from this product.
2. Noodles and pasta. It is not difficult to guess that the popularity of noodles came to Thailand from China. But in this country, noodles have turned from a side dish into a completely independent dish.
3. Meat. Many Thai recipes include meat. But because of its high cost, residents of this country do not eat such dishes very often. The most popular are duck and chicken meat.
4. Seafood. Thailand is a country with access to the sea. It is not surprising that this has influenced the cuisine of this country. Seafood is the main product after rice in the Thai diet.
5. Sauces. Sweet, sour, spicy - they can add a new taste to any dish. The chefs of this country know the recipes for hundreds of original sauces. The most original salad here is seasoned with fermented fish sauce, vegetables and rice - khao yam.
6. Seasonings. The leader among the seasonings of Thai cuisine is yellow curry. Incredibly spicy, it has gained incredible popularity in this country and is the basis for many sauces. The abundance of spices and herbs is a characteristic feature of the dishes of this country.
7. Vegetables and fruits. Thailand's tropical climate has blessed it with a huge variety of incredible fruits. There are more than 20 types of bananas alone.
In addition to all the famous pineapples, eggplants, papaya, exotic fruits such as lychee, guava, durian, tangerini, sapodilla, mangosteen, rambutan and others grow here.
Fruits of Thailand.
A European will be able to try most of these species only upon arrival in this region. hospitable country. The peculiarity of the Thais is that they prefer to eat fruits as part of some dishes rather than as a separate product.
Principles of Thai cuisine
An interesting feature of Thai cuisine is that recipes are not always clear cut. Even professional chefs often cook by eye. Thais consider the main secret of a delicious dish to be the perfect balance between five tastes: sour, bitter, salty, spicy and sweet.
A variety of seasonings and sauces are used to give a specific flavor to a dish. For example, chili or curry will make the dish incredibly spicy, bitter cucumber will make the food taste bitter, and sugar cane or ripe pineapple will add sweetness.
Lemon and lime are used to add sourness to the taste.
Thais prefer small portions, but eat often. Therefore, you should not be surprised if it seems to you that the waiter brought too little food on your plate. The use of knives is not common in Thailand. Thais prefer dishes where all food is cut into small pieces.
Thais prefer dishes where all food is cut into small pieces.
At the end of the meal there is fruit. There are many types of drinks in Thailand, but the most common is naam yen, plain cold water without any flavoring.
Cooking features
Cooking speed - characteristic Thai cuisine.
The Thai wok, a special utensil for frying over an open fire, has gained great popularity. Thick walls and a special shape speed up the cooking process significantly compared to a frying pan. The cook needs no more than 5 minutes to fry the vegetables until done.
Thai wok is a special utensil for frying over an open fire.
Vegetables are often fried for salad, which surprises many Europeans.
Serving the dish
Thai cuisine is distinguished by the exquisite type of food served. Not a single respected chef will bring a dish that is not beautifully served. An interesting presentation, sculptures of vegetables, and decoration with herbs allow you to enjoy not only the taste sensations, but also the aesthetics of the dish.
Dish of Thai cuisine.
A salad will always surprise you with its neat arrangement of vegetables, and a meat dish with additional serving elements.
Main dishes of Thai cuisine
There are hundreds of Thai recipes. And in order to try these delicious dishes, you should definitely visit this wonderful country. Yes, many restaurants of this cuisine are opening in the world, which give their customers a chance to get acquainted with the cuisine of Thailand.
But they can offer you to try only a couple of dozen dishes. True gourmets should visit this country and enjoy exotic dishes.
Salad is an integral part of the Thai diet. Their recipes surprise them with their simplicity and ease of execution. The most popular salad in the country is Som Tam. More than 10 ingredients are included in its composition. These include peanuts, fish sauce, sugar cane paste, and much more.
An unforgettable taste, a balance of simultaneous sour, salty, sweet and spicy, brought this salad to the pinnacle of Thai culinary excellence.
A salad with the curious name “Morning Glory” or Pad Pak Bung Fai Daeng intrigues many. A mixture of vegetables, basil, herbs and impomea is fried in oyster sauce, with a clove of garlic and a small amount of chili.
Morning Glory Salad is served hot.
No less famous is the Tom Yum Kung soup. Its peculiarity is that all ingredients are prepared in coconut milk. Shrimp, tomatoes, mushrooms, kolgan, a little lemongrass and a couple of lime leaves - that's all it needs. The dish is served either with or without coconut milk. Therefore, there are two types of this dish: Nam Kom and Nam Sai.
Thai recipes include hundreds of meat dishes. But the main one is Panang Gai. Chicken fried in the Thai favorite curry and served in coconut cream is loved by many fans of Thai cuisine. The spiciness of the dish is refreshed by lemongrass leaves.
The unusual balance of sour and spicy sets Panang Gai apart from other dishes.
It is also worth noting:
- Po Pia Sod - buns with sausage, omelette and vegetable salad.
- Mi Krop or "Crispy Noodles" - well-fried pasta with sweet and sour sauce.
- Yum Nua - grilled meat, cucumber, onion with pepper and lime juice.
- Larb Gai - chicken with chopped onions, lime juice and pepper.
- Pad Thai - rice noodles in a special sauce, eggs, shrimp, bean sprouts and green onions.
For dessert, Thais prefer to eat jelly or fruit pudding. Pancakes with banana are a favorite treat for many. Of course, this is just a small list of dishes that you can try in Thailand.
You may like Thai cuisine or not, but it does not leave anyone indifferent. If you are preparing for a trip to Thailand, then you will need a list of the 10 most delicious Thai dishes that are definitely worth trying.
Thai cuisine is hot, spicy, sweet, salty, sour and all at the same time. But the combination of flavors in 10 popular Thai dishes should appeal to everyone.
Even if you’ve already been to Thailand a hundred times and know the local cuisine inside and out, it’s always nice to be nostalgic, right?
The most popular Thai dishes
Let me start with the fact that, contrary to general opinion, in Thai cuisine there are many dishes that are not spicy at all and those that even small children can easily eat.
Yes, Thais love spicy food; it seems to me that their taste buds are different from European ones.
If you are just getting acquainted with Thai cuisine and you can’t eat spicy food or you are simply afraid of it, just tell the waiter or cook “Mai Phet”. Or at least – “But spicy.”
Keep in mind that in 99% of cases, if you ask for a little bit (nit noi), they will bring it to you like ordinary Thais. Spicy from the heart.
The most popular dish of Thai cuisine is not Tom Yam. Thais generally eat it quite rarely; although it is a cult soup, it is more for tourists. Although its popularity does not negate the fact that it is damn tasty, especially if you order it in the right place.
About Thai food and Thais
To understand how Thais feel about food, it is worth knowing that the verb “to eat” in Thailand (Kin Khao) literally means to eat rice.
Thais always eat. All day. If they are not eating, they are talking about food or discussing food with friends.
And as a greeting you may be asked “Kin Khaw”, which literally means “have you eaten rice?”, but in reality - how are you? And it does not require an answer to this rhetorical question.
Breakfast in Thailand starts early. At 5:30-6 in the morning, makashniks are already in full swing plying the streets of cities and towns and Thai people go out for a morning snack. At the same time, monks walk by and collect alms.
Breakfast can be anything. From doshirak noodles “Mama” to fried chicken. But most often “Jock”. This is rice boiled into porridge with meat balls.
At 12 – lunch. If you suddenly need something from the Thais from 12 to 13, forget it. Workers of offices, shops, offices go out for lunch. If you can’t leave, they eat all this hot, fragrant food right at the workplace, accompanying the matter with conversations.
Dinner is at 19-20 pm. The makashnitsa workers have all their tables occupied. Office clerks, taxi drivers, moths, students - everyone goes to dinner.
It is not customary to cook at home. And for what? The street is full of delicious and inexpensive food. Useful? This is a complex topic. Thai food, by the way, is quite high in calories and is not about “healthy lifestyle” at all.
Although many Europeans here are losing weight, because it’s hot, they want to eat less, more fruits and vegetables, fiber, fiber. So whether you eat healthy or unhealthy Thai food depends only on you.
Not spicy Thai dishes
I’ll probably start with the fact that everyone can eat without fear and immediately upon arrival. We will talk about non-spicy Thai dishes with rice and chicken, which even a child can eat.
Gai Yang +Khao Niyao – Grilled chicken with sticky rice
Well, it’s impossible to describe this on an empty stomach. Now I’ll finish writing and run outside to my beloved grandmother, who sells this most delicious version of Gai Yang Khao-Niyao near her house.
Grilled chicken leg, specially marinated and chopped into pieces, plus sticky rice in a bag, what could be tastier???
I love this Thai dish for its simplicity and incredible taste. No two recipes are the same. There can be 5 chicken and rice bowls in a row and everyone will have completely different options. So to find yours, you need to try.
How to find? Easily. Literally on any street you will find a makashnitsa (a mobile kitchen on a moped) with a grill on which are ready-made fried chicken legs. You come up, say hello, choose your piece and the seller immediately warms it up for you and chops it into pieces. Rice is not suitable a priori, so don’t forget to say – now khao niyao kap.
Price: 50 baht for chicken leg + 10 baht for a bag of rice
They eat chicken and rice with their hands, dipping all this deliciousness in sweet or spicy sauce
Khao Tom – Rice soup with meatballs
If it’s time for your child to have lunch, and you are a supporter of having soup for lunch, then there is a way out. In Thailand, you can order him Khao Tom soup.
In general, in Thailand, Khao Tom is most often eaten for breakfast, but it is also served for lunch and is on the menu of many cafes.
Khao Tom soup includes jasmine rice cooked in meat broth. Eggs, green onions, shallots, meat, lemongrass and a little ginger.
Most often you will have pork meatballs floating in the soup. Sometimes - chicken.
Issue price – 50-60 baht
Khao Pad Gai/Kung – Chicken fried rice or shrimp
Khao pad is fried rice, the basis of Thai cuisine. Popular with both Thais and tourists. Classic.
If you don’t know what to eat, always take khao pad, you can’t go wrong.
It is almost impossible to spoil it, it is always filling and tasty.
You can find khao pad anywhere from the top of your head to a cool restaurant.
Khao Pad Gai is prepared like this: boiled rice is fried along with eggs, herbs and onions, meat is added and served.
You can order Khao Pad Kung, then you will get rice with shrimp. There is also Khao Pad Moo - fried rice with pork.
Served with a wedge of lime, which is usually squeezed onto the rice to improve the taste.
Children eat Khao Pad with pleasure, and so do adults.
Issue price – from 40 baht
Fish in salt – Pla Pao – grilled fish in salt with lemongrass
You've probably seen and eaten this grilled fish in salt a hundred times, but you didn't know what it was called. Or maybe you haven’t eaten or seen it, then I highly recommend that you buy it and try it.
Pla Pao is a win-win option even for those who don’t really like fish.
Fish in salt is a great dinner. Nourishing, healthy and not high in calories at all.
It is prepared like this: peeled perch is “stuffed” with lemongrass, coated with coarse salt and baked over coals. The fish is cut in front of you, and in order to feel all the taste and aroma, you need to break off the soft, juicy white pieces of fish from the inside and dip them alternately - either in the sauce that is served with the fish, or in pieces of sea salt, which remains on its crispy skin.
The asking price is from 80 baht. In high tourist season on average 100-160 baht, depending on the size of the fish.
There are few bones in this fish and they are large and can be easily removed. But still, be careful if you give it to children, sort through each piece.
Pad Krapao Mu Kai Dao – Rice with fried pork, basil and fried egg
I love it, I'm crazy about Pad Krapao. If I want “something Thai”, then the right thing to do is go and buy Pad Krapao.
This simple dish combines everything that Thais love - spicy, spicy, fresh, fragrant, unusual and satisfying.
Plain unleavened rice served with minced fried pork and basil. Before ordering, be sure to mention what you need - Kai Dao, that is, with scrambled eggs on top. Without it, it won't be the same.
The melting yolk of the egg should envelop the rice and minced meat, shading the basil and removing the heat of the chili.
You can, of course, ask to make it not spicy, but this will disrupt and ruin everything. Pad krapao should be eaten spicy. That's the whole point of it.
Issue price – from 50 baht
Yam won sen – Spicy glass noodles
And here is a dietary product for you. Yam Woon Sen uses thin glass noodles, garlic, dry shrimp, peanuts, onions, lime, Chinese celery and chili. The taste is spicy, with sourness.
Very often it is made with boiled shrimp.
In general, Thais are not good at salads. The fingers of one hand are enough to list their “strong” salads.
Neither in cool restaurants, nor in seedy cafes, Thais know how to make salads close to European ones. For example, “Caesar” salad, or “Greek”, or even the most common one – “Vegetable”.
Their vegetable salad will look like this: coarsely chopped pieces of cabbage and onions, a couple of tomatoes and cucumbers + sweet mayonnaise. It's impossible to eat.
At the same time, variations of the Yam salad are tasty and surprising. But keep in mind, it only looks simple, but it’s easy to mess up. So if you don’t like it the first time, it’s possible that they simply didn’t taste good.
Issue price – from 60 baht
Som Tam – Green Papaya Salad
Som Tam came to central Thailand from the country's poorest region, Isan. Thais love Som Tam. It goes as an appetizer to the main course and as an independent product.
It’s done like this: pieces of green papaya cut into strips are pounded in a mortar, along with chili peppers, green beans, cherry tomatoes, garlic, dry shrimp and peanuts. Add lime, cane sugar, fish sauce.
Tip: If you want it spicy, ask for 2 chili peppers. Medium sharpness -1. Not spicy at all - zero.
I don’t like dried shrimp, they’re kind of weird, so please don’t add them either.
Som Tam is a must try, as along with Tom Yum it is the hallmark of Thai cuisine.
Easy to find. If you see a pestle and mortar on a coffee table or in a cafe, then there is definitely catfish there.
They also make catfish from green mango. In my opinion, this option is even tastier than Papaya.
The asking price is from 50 baht.
There are dishes whose prices are established and fixed throughout the country. So the price of Som Tam on the street is usually 50 baht. This is the simplest option, only made from vegetables, but that’s what we need.
If you buy catfish there with crabs, for example, it will cost 100 baht. But crabs are just a name and a shell, so I don’t recommend it.
In a cafe, som there can cost whatever you want, of course.
Tom Yum Kung – spicy shrimp soup
I don’t know what else to write about Tom Yam, you probably all ate it and admired it. Tom Yam is the most popular dish among visitors.
Surprisingly, Tom Yum is made from scratch before serving. No broth, preparations.
Vegetables and herbs, tom yam paste, shrimp and, at the very end, coconut cream are thrown into boiling water. It may be spicy or not at all. Ask for no chili if you don't want it spicy.
Lyuli are usually divided into two camps. Those who are in the “more cream” camp, and those who love without it at all.
There is no right or wrong; each version has the right to exist.
Makashnits also sell Tom Yum. For example, one of the most delicious ones is sold by a grandmother opposite the Wat Bun market. It's open in the evening, so if you want something hot at 11 pm, you know where to find it.
The asking price is from 80 baht. Most often, the price of soup in a cafe is from 120 to 160 baht.
Khao Niyao Mamuang – Mango Sticky Rice
Thailand's most famous dessert. Ice cream and even cosmetics are made with its taste.
Usually, sellers of this dessert enlighten the whole place about it, and if you see beautiful mangoes hanging above the seller’s head, it’s definitely Khao Niyao.
Inexperienced tourists are surprised by the price. Why so expensive??? IN tourist places rice with mango can cost 120-150 baht. On the market 70-80.
The fact is that the rice is cooked for a long time and in a special way, in coconut milk, the syrup is boiled down.
It is served like this: sticky rice in syrup is placed on a plate and mango cut into strips is placed on top. Drizzle with sauce, or just like that.
For those who love sweets and something unusual, this is the place to come. My kids love this dessert, but I don’t understand it at all. I find it both weird and too sweet. And I’m not yet ready to combine rice with fruit.
Pad Thai – fried wide noodles with shrimp
Another popular and mild Thai dish.
Pad Thai is a classic of the genre. Wide noodles are fried in tamarind sauce, onion, egg, dry shrimp, boiled shrimp are added and sprinkled with fresh bean sprouts and peanuts.
Tasty, filling, you have to try it. Sometimes, careless cooks serve some kind of sticky noodle mass instead of pad thai. So it shouldn't be like this.
Price – from 60 baht
Bottom line
I hope that you, like me, wanted something tasty and this article has whetted your appetite and desire to come to Thailand as soon as possible.
If you’re not going to Thailand soon, you can easily cook something Thai yourself. It requires basic ingredients like rice, fish sauce, chili and cane sugar.
What are your favorite Thai dishes?
In any case, bon appetit!
Thai cuisine offers a lot of unique and unusual dishes for Europeans. The main components of national dishes are seafood and chicken, rice and noodles, vegetables and fruits. But the highlight of any Thai recipe are spices and sauces, herbs and dressings. Most dishes in Thailand are highly spicy, and if you are not a fan of such food, then it’s quite simple to correct the situation: when ordering, just say the phrase “Not spicy.” Thai food can be either fried or boiled, but the dishes are generally light and healthy. What is the national cuisine of Thailand, and what food is worth trying while traveling, we describe in detail below.
First meal
Thai cuisine is replete with unique soups, the main ingredients of which are seafood or chicken. The base for preparing liquid dishes can be either meat broth or coconut milk, and often both components are combined in one recipe. It is worth considering that Thai soups are somewhat different from those we are used to seeing. In most cases, in such dishes it is customary to eat only the main component and drink the broth, and the remaining ingredients are added only for taste and aroma.
Among the dishes of Thai cuisine, Tom Yam soup has gained deserved fame; there are a great many recipes for its preparation. But the constant ingredients of the national dish remain king prawns, boiled in coconut milk and flavored with garlic, lime sprigs and straw mushrooms. In the classic version, Tom Yam is cooked in fish broth, sometimes in chicken broth. Each cook, following his imagination, can add a lot of other ingredients to the soup, such as ginger, tomatoes, galangal, lemongrass, etc. This Thai dish has a sour taste and is incredibly spicy, so it is often served with boiled rice.
Those who don't like spicy dishes too much should try Tom Kha soup. Just like the previously mentioned Tom Yum, it is prepared with coconut milk, but the main ingredient here is chicken (sometimes fish). When preparing this national dish, standard Thai seasonings are used: cilantro, ginger, lemongrass and lime leaves. Some restaurants prepare Tom Kha with shrimp and add a large amount of chili pepper for spiciness. But in the traditional variation, the dish should have a spicy, slightly sweet taste rather than a spicy one.
Another popular dish of Thai cuisine is Kung Som Pak Ruam soup, which has a very specific smell and aftertaste. It is usually cooked using meat broth with the addition of stewed carrots, cabbage and green beans. The flavor palette of this dish includes all sorts of shades: Kung Som Pak Ruam has a sweet and sour taste with spicy notes. The soup is often served with an omelet and decorated with fragrant herbs. In general, this National dish easy and healthy, definitely worth a try.
Main dishes
Traditional Thai cuisine offers a range of interesting and tasty dishes based on chicken, pork, fish and a wide variety of seafood. And among the national side dishes are rice, rice, egg or glass noodles and potatoes. All delicacies are prepared with the addition of traditional Thai spices, sauces and herbs. Which ones should you definitely try?
Pad Thai is perhaps one of the few Thai dishes familiar to most Europeans. Actually, these are rice noodles, which are fried with garlic, onions, bean sprouts and seasoned with vinegar, vegetable oil and pieces of hot pepper. Sometimes a little sugar is added to the dish to give it a more piquant taste. At the final stage of cooking, the noodles are seasoned with egg, flavored with a couple of drops of lime and walnut pieces. You can try the noodles both in the classic form and with the addition of various fillings, which include fried slices of chicken or pork, as well as assorted seafood.
Kung Keow Wan (Green Curry)
This national dish will be appreciated by all lovers of thrills and unusual aromas. Kung Kno Wan is served in a miniature bowl filled with green curry sauce mixed with coconut milk. Inside the gravy you will find pieces of chicken and vegetables, which are complemented by lime wedges and a sprig of basil. By the way, among the vegetable components of Green Curry there is often Thai eggplant - a unique Asian fruit with a lot of useful properties.
Panang Gai (Red Curry)
Traditional Thai dishes have always been highly spicy, and Papang Gai is no exception. Tender chicken pieces topped with whipped coconut cream take on a fiery flavor in a thick red curry gravy. But there is also a fresh note in the dish, obtained from lemongrass. White rice is an excellent side dish for this spicy dish.
Massaman curry is nothing more than a Thai version of goulash. Everyone can try it, because the dish is not spicy, but at the same time rich in fragrant spices. The main component here is meat, cut into small pieces and fried with onions in a dressing of curry and coconut milk. Thai cuisine provides two standard side dishes for Massaman curry - potatoes or rice.
A simple but quite popular dish national cuisine rice-based, which is sold in any Thai eatery. First, the cereal is boiled and then fried with pepper, onion and garlic, seasoned with Asian spices. Afterwards, the rice is mixed with seafood or pieces of chicken. Sometimes fruits are added to the cereal (for example, pineapple). And, of course, the dish comes with a traditional lime wedge, adding freshness and juiciness. Some Khau Phat recipes allow the addition of eggs. It is noteworthy that the dish is very budget-friendly, so it is very popular among both locals and travelers.
The best Thai dishes come in a variety of flavors, but if fried noodles and rice don't wow you, then you should definitely try Sen Khao Soi. This food is most widespread in the north of Thailand, so you can order it in rare resort restaurants. The base of the soup is a broth made from curry sauce, to which deep-fried egg noodles are added. The dish also includes onions, pickled cabbage, lime juice and chili.
Plah Plow (grilled fish in salt)
Another delicacy of national cuisine that all seafood lovers should try is Plah Plow. Only fresh white fish is used for cooking. It is rubbed with salt, due to which a crispy crust is formed during frying. The product must be seasoned with herbs, often adding palm leaves. The dish is thoroughly grilled and flavored with spicy additives. As a result, the fish meat is tender and flavorful. If desired, you can order traditional noodles or boiled rice for your meal.
Gai Pad Met Mamuang
If you are still deciding what to try in Thailand, then pay attention to this dish. Firstly, it is not spicy, but at the same time quite aromatic, and secondly, the main component here is chicken, so opponents of seafood should like this food. Pieces of tender chicken are fried in a special frying pan with vegetables and spices, and then seasoned with cashews. This Thai delicacy is served, of course, with rice.
Salads and snacks
In Thai cuisine, interesting recipes are also presented among salads and appetizers. The light and healthy ingredients used in their preparation find themselves in unimaginable culinary combinations. Among the dishes unusual for Europeans it is worth trying:
The peculiarities of Thai cuisine primarily lie in the ingredients used in it. Have you ever imagined green papaya salad? This fruit is the basis of Som Tam, which includes, among other things, garlic, onions, tomatoes and green beans. The final accord of the salad is shrimp and nuts, giving the dish a truly exotic taste. Sometimes instead of shrimp, crab meat is added to Som Tam. For a fresh touch, the salad is sprinkled with lemon juice and special fish sauce. It is noteworthy that preparing Som Tam does not involve simply chopping the ingredients: all components are mixed and pounded in a special mortar. As a result, the dish turns out soft and juicy.
Among the national snacks, it is worth noting spring rolls - a light, dietary dish served in the form of an envelope with filling. Rice paper serves as a wrapper for the filling, the preparation of which has a whole lot of variations. The most popular fillings in Thailand are chicken, seafood and vegetables. If you want to try a vegetarian option, get ready for a vibrant combination of bean sprouts, carrots, cabbage, garlic and rice noodles. Spring rolls with seafood, as a rule, are not complete without king prawns. To prepare the dish, different methods can be used - both frying and steaming.
Dessert
While traveling in Thailand, it would be a crime not to try national Thai dishes, especially desserts. Many of them include fruits, coconuts and, of course, rice. There are also delicious savory pastries here. First of all, you should pay attention to:
Among the desserts served in Thailand, a dish called Khao Nyug Ma Muang is of genuine interest. The dessert consists of three main ingredients: mango, sticky rice and coconut cream. A very unusual, but very tasty combination. Even though it is a sweet dessert, many locals eat it for breakfast. You can buy and try Khao Nyug Ma Muang both from street vendors and in cafes.
In Thai cuisine, a dessert called roti is a familiar pancake. It is prepared from liquid dough, which is stretched to the size of a thin flat cake. Chicken and egg, fruit, chocolate or simple sugar are added to the pancake as fillers. It is noteworthy that in reality roti is not a national dessert: the recipe was borrowed by the Thais from the Indians, after which it became widespread throughout Thailand.
This is exactly the dish of Thai cuisine, the photo of which can excite the taste buds. For many, coconut ice cream may be associated with a sundae sprinkled with shavings, but that’s not the case! The Thai version does include creamy ice cream, but the dessert is complemented not with shavings, but with coconut milk, fruit jelly, grains of sweet rice and even beans. The presentation of this dish is also very original: the balls are placed in a peeled coconut with pulp.
Find out PRICES or book any accommodation using this form
Fruits
Thailand is known throughout the world for its incredible variety of fruits, many of which have such intricate shapes and shades that it is difficult to understand how to eat them. Some exotic fruits may appeal to most tourists, while others will appeal only to a few. But it’s definitely worth trying each of them at least once.
A fruit that can evoke conflicting feelings even among the most desperate gourmets. Having opened the brown shell with spikes, inside you will see a fruit of a yellowish-greenish hue. Durian is famous for its unpleasant smell, although it tastes sweet and has creamy notes. For obvious reasons, it is not recommended to store the fruit in your room or buy it as a souvenir for loved ones. But when in Thailand, you should definitely try the exotic durian.
The fruit is quite famous, distinguished not only by its sweet juiciness, but also by its beneficial properties for the body. The pulp of the fruit, depending on ripening, can be yellow or green. In Thai cuisine, mango is actively used both in salads and desserts. It is also often used in the production of cosmetics.
Mangosteen
This is a fruit small sizes with a burgundy peel, looks like an apple on the outside, and resembles a head of garlic on the inside. The fruit has a sweet and sour taste: some compare it to a sweetened grapefruit, while others even think it is a mixture of grapes and peach.
Dragon fruit
Beautiful on the outside and tasteless on the inside, dragon fruit (or pitahaya) does not live up to tourists' expectations. The bright pink peel with green scales hides the snow-white fruit interspersed with black seeds. It would seem that such an intricate fruit should have a very interesting taste, but it is quite bland and unflavoured. Locals eat dragon fruit after moistening the pulp with lime juice.
Papaya is often used in national Thai cuisine; it is the main component of the Som Tam salad. A ripe fruit with a neutral taste is covered with a yellow shell, while an unripe fruit is covered with a green shell. Papaya contains a lot of useful microelements.
Longan is a miniature transparent fruit enclosed in a brownish shell. Outwardly, it resembles a walnut. Inside the fruit there is a seed that should never be eaten as it is poisonous.
Jackfruit
This is a rather large fruit with a spiky green skin, similar in appearance to the durian we have already described. The flesh inside is yellow and has an interesting aroma. The sweet taste of jackfruit is slightly reminiscent of a Duchess pear. The fruit is often used in Thai cuisine and added to salads and desserts.
Compare Housing Prices Using This Form
Alcoholic drinks
We have already met the best dishes of Thai cuisine, and it’s time to talk about national drinks. In Thailand you will find quite a wide choice alcoholic products, which is distinguished affordable price and good quality. Rum, beer and berry wines are especially popular in the country. There are many variations of drinks, so we will only tell you about the best, long-proven brands:
This is a fairly young beer brand that has existed on the Thai market for no more than 10 years, but has managed to gain recognition among both locals and tourists. Classic Chang beer has a hoppy aftertaste and is distinguished by its increased strength (6.4%). However, the brand also offers varieties with reduced alcohol content - Chang Draft (5%) and Chang Light (4.2%). Translated from Thai, Chang means “elephant”, the image of which adorns the label on the beer bottle.
Sang Som rum is the most exported national Thai drink, which is definitely worth trying on vacation. Despite the budget price, the rum is of high quality and is sold in beautiful bottles. The strength of the drink is 40%, but its taste is soft and pleasant. In stores you can find bottles of 0.3 l and 0.7 l. Sang Som rum will be an interesting and inexpensive gift from Thailand.
Conclusion
Thai cuisine is a real discovery for many travelers. Unusual combinations of products and a varied taste palette of dishes allow everyone to find food to their liking here. At the same time, most of the dishes are dietary and healthy, which will undoubtedly be appreciated by adherents of a healthy diet.
Related posts:
