Joanna James
Featuring a captivating blend of textures, aromas, and appetizing flavours, Thai cuisine artfully pairs hot spices with sweet, light citrus components like mango and lime! For food lovers with a penchant for exciting flavours, here are five must-try Thai dishes to indulge in.
An iconic Thai dish containing a delicious balance of salty, sweet, and sour tanginess - Pad Thai is essentially stir-fried noodles. This dish is traditionally made with flat rice noodles, eggs, sauces, and vegetables such as shallots and bean sprouts – combined with a protein such as chicken or port or a generous helping of seafood. It’s garnished with roasted peanuts, chilli, and a sprinkle of fresh herbs for added taste.
Decidedly fragrant, slightly spicy, and creamy with hints of sweetness, Khoa Soi is a noodle soup with a coconut milk base. Into this delicious broth, egg noodles and either beef, chicken, or seafood are added. After letting it cook for several minutes, deep-fried crispy egg noodles, and a colourful mix of pickled vegetables and shallots are added for a delightfully crunchy texture.
One of Thailand’s most satisfying desserts, Khoa Niao Mamuang or mango sticky rice is basically a sweet glutinous coconut rice served up with fresh cut ripe mangoes and a sweet coconut sauce. It’s the ideal way to finish a traditional Thai dining experience. Many a Koh Phangan restaurant such as those located in hotels such Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas are sure to serve this popular Thai dessert!
A lunchtime favourite among Thai locals, Khao Pad is a Thai fried rice which is a simple yet delicious dish worth trying. A filling rice dish originating from central Thailand, Khoa Pad differs from the usual Asian fried rice dishes in that it is prepared with fragrant Thai jasmine rice. Preparation includes stir-frying the rice grains, fish sauce, eggs, and a combination of vegetables and fresh herbs such as onions, garlic, shallots, and tomatoes with either beef, pork, chicken, or seafood. The dish is served with a generous helping of fresh cucumber slices and lime wedges to add a dash of tanginess for heightened flavour.
A trademark dish of Thailand’s lush central region. Tom Yum Goong (known universally as the Thai hot and sour shrimp soup) is loved for its strong, hot, and sour flavours. This clear soup includes a combination of ingredients such as fish sauce, lemongrass, shallots, mushrooms, red chili, peppers, galangal, and lime juice. Traditionally, the tom yum goon soup is made with goone – Thai for shrimp, the soup is also made with other variations including fish, mixed seafood, and chicken. It's important to keep in mind that this soup is a rather spicy specialty in Thai cuisine, so those unable to tolerate heavy spice levels should opt for less spicy soups such as the Thai chicken soup known for its creamy and sweet flavours.
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A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
