Joanna James
Just as much as having visions of hectic shopping coupled with a dose of haggling, exploring the parks and temples, and taking to the waves on quintessential Thai long tail boats on your trip to Thailand, don't fail to try some of the exotic dishes the nation is famed for, rich in aroma and flavour.
A famous meal swiftly prepared and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike available at many restaurants in Koh Samui. Sauteed bean sprouts, tofu, carrots, peanuts and meat (chicken or beef) are tossed into boiled noodles with scrambled egg in a wok and stir-fried with pad thai sauce and served hot. A yummy flavour-packed dish.
A well-loved Thai dessert this is also served as street food. Consisting of sweet rice, slices of mango lashed with sweet syrup and accompanied by creamy coconut sauce. Eat it with a spoon or with your fingers.
A hot soup including prawns with a lacing of sour taste and delicious flavour of prawns. Tom Yum soups are a hot favourite in Thailand with the aroma and flavour of lemon grass being prominent along with lime juice, chilli and fish sauce. When prawns are added it is Tom Yum Goong. This filling dis is sometimes eaten with sticky rice.
Also, called stir-fried rice Khao Pad is a rice dish relished by visitors such as those from Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort. Made with Using Thai jasmine rice, the steamed grains are stir-fried with garlic, broken egg, soy sauce or oyster sauce, and the shredded meat of choice and made spicy with a dash of chilli and topped off with lime juice and a dash of sugar.
This is the popular green papaya salad, a must-try when in Thailand and different to salads in other parts of the world. Shredded green papaya is mixed with chilli peppers, tomatoes, dried shrimp, peanuts, a touch of sweetness and salt to make a crunchy salad for brunch, lunch or as a snack.
The curry is made with many spices and other ingredients such as green chillies, Thai basil, palm sugar, green curry paste, fish sauce, lime and coriander leaves, Once all the ingredients are mixed well coconut milk is added to make it creamy and tone down the spices, ideal to use for chicken or even vegetables. The complete dish is ideal with steamed rice.
Unlike other milk tea, the Thai version is unique and this must be experienced from a street shop. It costs less and tastes equally good as at any restaurant. Made with Cha Tra Mue Thai Tea, condensed milk, and brown sugar the tea is lashed with tapioca pearls making it a creamy and heavenly drink.
This is a sweet candy or dessert made from rice flour, cream of coconut and palm sugar. A favourite sweet with locals and visitors alike similar to French Caramel this is available at many markets.
Similar to barbecued meat, satay is made with different types of meat or seafood well marinated with spices and sauces on skewers and grilled to an aromatic finish and served with peanut sauce.
Although difficult to pronounce this tasty chicken with cashew nuts dish is a wonderful side dish with steamed rice. Stir-fried chicken and cashew nuts are flavoured with chilli, coloured bell peppers and a fist full of spring onions making it a colourful and flavoursome dish.
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