Joanna James
Most Asian cuisine can easily be vegan. Thai people show you how it is done. Carbs dominate the plate in general and though there is no meat, the dishes are packed with flavour and texture. 🥘🥗
Som-Tam dish | Photo via Max Pixel , CC0
When it comes to salads, Thai cuisine usually involves both spicy and sour flavours. Fresh lime, soy sauce, pepper and sugar are used as seasoning.
What makes these dishes so inviting to foodies are the powerful flavours, fresh ingredients and the fact that restaurants can put them out on plates in a jiff. Glass noodles are a resident favourite.
Made from mung beans, these bad boys are soft, springy and low in calories. This makes it that perfect meal for health junkies who like to eat tasty food on holiday. Som-Tam, also known as Green Papaya Salad is another health option which is made from sliced up raw green papaya seasoned with Thai chillies for a spicy kick.
This fully raw dish is low in fat content and high in Vitamin C and it is Thailand's most famous salad.
If you are in search of Thailand's best restaurants, reading up on blogs such as The Dine and Wine, which provides readers ample information is a good place to start before selecting a place.
By Takeaway (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
In Thailand, curry is a favourite dish and almost everyone enjoys it as a lunch time option. It resembles a stew and has all sorts of ingredients in it like pepper, spices, herbs and coconut milk.
Curry is often eaten with rice on the side. It might be better described as something between a soup and sauce that retains the tastiness of both.
Restaurants often offer Red Curry with tofu which usually includes a serving of holy basil and bamboo shoots.
Amongst the other vegan curries, you can find is a delicious Panang curry with fried tofu, eggplant and Thai pea. Diners also enjoy the Green Curry which comes with tofu, green sauce made from green chilli paste, bamboo shoots and a fresh vegetable platter.
By Takeaway (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Thai soups can be as light or as spicy as you want it. A twist on the famous Tom Yum soup is Tom Yum Mushroom Soup which is a fiery dish splashed with a citrusy flavour and aromatic herbs such as lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime.
In addition, you can also try the Tom Kha Mushroom Soup which is a softer version of Tom Yum.
Diners who appreciate a little less spice and a little more cream can opt for this yummy soup which comes with coconut milk for a smoother and more balanced taste. This classic soup made from the goodness of stock would be highly recommended by any dining guide.
If you ask for vegetarian options, there is a good chance that the chef or cooks will provide you with a vegetable soup. There is usually an assortment of crunchy vegetables floating in a tasty vegetable broth.
The broth is commonly made with soft tofu, green onion, cabbage and napa. Travellers with a standard liking for chicken soup will be surprised to find some pretty amazing flavours in this humble vegan soup.
Photo via Maxpixel , Creative Commons Zero - CC0.
The vegetable rolls offered by Thai food places are nothing short of unique and quirky in terms of ingredients. Instead of a meat filling, the spring rolls are actually packed with clear glass noodles and an assortment of vegetables which makes them extremely crunchy fresh from the frying pan to your plate.
They are served hot with sweet chilli sauce. Some restaurants do make the rolls in advance so it is often better to check with the restaurant about the vegetarian rolls in order to make sure that they are actually meat-free.
However, the rolls are an excellent appetiser and most travellers reach for them without haste. Even more unique are the salad rolls which are rolled in rice and come with a serving of sweet peanut sauce.
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