Thai Cuisine is the country's leading food, as everyone knows. Most of the dishes are light and have intense flavors and spices. But the texture, smell, color, and taste of food depend on the recipe's details. People also know that the food is different.
Bangkok, Central Thai, Isan or Northeastern Thai, Northern Thai, and Southern Thai are the 5 regions that have their styles of food. The country's food and traditions were influenced by the countries around it and its location.
For example, coconut milk and fresh turmeric are used a lot in Indian, Malaysian, Indonesian, and Thai food. Between the 15th and 18th centuries, when Hokkien and Teochew people moved to Thailand, they brought a lot of Chinese food that became popular in Thailand.
During those years, people were used to cooking methods like deep-frying, stir-frying, and using a wok. Also, tofu, soy sauce, some types of noodles, and fermented bean paste were brought to Thai food. Besides these, chili pepper is the most well-known ingredient from the West (America). During the Columbian Exchange, Portuguese and Spanish people brought tomato, papaya, corn, eggplant, pineapple, pumpkin, cashews, peanuts, and other foods to Thailand. In the end, Thai food had its unique style that came from all of these different influences and new ingredients.
Serving
Thai food culture used to be that people ate with their hands. But now, most people would instead use a fork and spoon to eat than a knife (except the ethnic Thai people). The fork is used to push food into your mouth, while the spoon is used to bring food to your mouth. Most of the time, chopsticks are used to eat Chinese noodle soups.
At Least 5 Things Make Up A Typical Thai Meal:
1. A dip or relish for vegetables (khrueang chim)
2. A clear soup
3. A stew or curry
4. A slice of meat, fish, seafood, or deep-fried vegetable dish
5. A slice of meat, fish, seafood, or stir-fried vegetable dish.
In contrast to other cuisines, even the soup is served with the other dishes. Also, some of these dishes are meant to be shared while others aren't.
Ingredients Of A Thai Meal
It's important to note that Thai food may be one of the healthiest types. Thai foods get their flavors from garlic, galangal, coriander, lemongrass, shallots, kaffir lime leaves, pepper, fish sauce, shrimp paste, palm sugar, and chilies. It is also known that fresh herbs and spices are used more often than dried ones. Meats like pork, chicken, beef, duck, and water buffalo are used often. Fish and other types of seafood are also essential to Thai food culture.
Rice
Rice, called Khao in Thailand, is the main ingredient in Thai food, just like other Asian foods. More than a thousand different kinds of rice have been used up to this point. The most commonly used jasmine rice is non-glutinous and is called khao suai when cooked or steamed (beautiful rice). Other common types of rice in Thailand include sticky rice, Thai Red Cargo rice, and black sticky rice.
Pasta
What about pasta? Yes, they are also used a lot in this kitchen, like rice. Most of the time, rice flour, wheat flour, and mung bean flour is used to make them. Rice noodles that come from Chinese food can be wide and flat (sen yai), thin and flat (sen lek), or round and thin (dan mian) (sen mi). Stir-fried noodles and noodle soups are usually served to each person individually, not all at once.
Fish Sauce
Fish sauce, also known as nam pla, could be the second most important ingredient in Thai cooking. It smells delicious and is made from fish that has been fermented. Depending on how it's made, there are, of course, many different kinds. One might be fermented with shrimp and spices, while another might have pieces of fish in it.
Shrimp Paste
Shrimp paste is another sauce that is often used. It is shrimp that has been ground up and mixed with salt. One of the things in nam phrik Kapi is this paste (chili paste). It is used in Thai curry pastes and rice dishes. Soy sauce comes from China and is the third most common type of sauce. Most vegetables and meats are stir-fried with black soy sauce, light soy sauce, sweet soy sauce, fermented whole soybean sauce, and oyster sauce.
Herbs And Spices
Thai cooking also uses a lot of vegetables, herbs, and spices. Besides these, the most common ingredients are;
Herbs and spices: Thai lime, Thai basil, coriander, spearmint, holy basil, ginger, turmeric, fingerroot, cilantro, Thai lemon basil, curry powder, and peppercorns.
Leaves: Kaffir lime leaves, banana leaves, cha-om (leaves of the Acacia pennata tree), banana flowers, neem tree leaves, bai makok (leaves of Spondias mombin)
Garden mouse-dropping chili is the spiciest, mouse-dropping chili is the second spiciest, sky-pointing chili is the least spicy, phrik yuak is the least spicy, and phrik haeng is the least spicy (dried )
Oils: Coconut oil, palm oil, soybean oil, peanut oil
Eggplant, khana (instead of broccoli), yardlong beans, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, tomatoes, cucumbers, Chinese kale, Chinese cabbage, choy sum, sweet potatoes, squash, sato, winged beans, mushrooms, shiitake, white jelly fungus, and corn.
Coconut, papaya, jackfruit, mango, langsat, pineapple, durian, Burmese grapes, pomelo, strawberries, apples, pears, and peaches are all fruits that can be found in Thailand.
Thai Dishes You Have To Try
Besides pad Thai, there are many other dishes you should try;
Massaman Curry: You can make this dish with chicken, beef, duck, or tofu. It is made with coconut milk, palm sugar, fish sauce, onions, potatoes, nuts, bay leaves, cinnamon, and chilies, among other things. Rice can also be served as a side dish.
Tom Yum Goong: Tom yum Goong is a hot and sour soup that most people know. It is made with prawns, but beef, chicken, or pork can be used instead. Its flavor is improved by adding herbs and spices to its broth. This soup has fish sauce, red chili peppers, lime juice, lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves as the main ingredients.
Pad See Ew: stir-fried rice noodles are the central part of this dish. Dark soy sauce is used for cooking it. Only broccoli, eggs, and garlic are used to make it. Different kinds use chicken, shrimp, or pork. Do visit our best restaurant for Thai food in our locality.