Like many Southeast Asian cuisines, Thai food is easily misunderstood by outsiders who think that their only options are pad thai, curries, and mango sticky rice. While these options are delicious, Thai cuisine is in fact much more complex than expected.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand often cites the “must-taste” status of Thai food as part of their campaigns to attract visitors, and for good reason. Influences in Thai cuisine span the range from the refined dishes of the royal palace to the rich ingredients and innovative techniques brought by the trade routes to and from China, India, and Malaysia.
Even so, the global popularity of Thai cuisine means that fans of Thai food have their own favorite dishes. The best part is that many Thai dishes are comforting, nutritious, and ultimately delightful in themselves.
8 Thai Culinary Classics to Try in Thailand
The following Thai dishes are often found in restaurants all over the world, not just in Thailand. To get the authentic Thai cuisine experience, however, we recommend trying them from a skilled Thai chef who can make these dishes. You can find these items on the menu at some of the most magnificent private villas in Phuket and refined vacation rentals in Koh Samui.
1. Tomyum Kung
Also known as tom yum goong and translates loosely to “sour prawn soup,” tomyum kung gets its distinctive flavor from the balanced combination of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors. It is the balance of these flavors that helps make the dish one of UNESCO’s treasures of intangible cultural heritage for Thailand.
While the soup is often made with prawns or shrimp, some Thai chefs are known to substitute fish or tofu for the seafood. Lemongrass, lime leaves, galangal, chili peppers and mushrooms complete the soup’s complex flavors, and there are chefs who also add coconut milk for richness.
2. Tom Kha Gai
A cousin of tomyum, tom kha gai uses chicken instead of prawns and adds mushrooms and coconut milk to the combination of lemongrass, galangal, lime leaves and chilis. The resulting dish is no doubt richer than tomyum, but slightly milder and just as comforting.
Tom kha gai makes for a nice starter to a Thai meal or barbecue, since the texture is smooth and the spices are not overpowering. It’s also the perfect soup of choice for those rainy days when you can’t step out of your villa.
3. Som Tam
Originating from the northern and central regions of Thailand, the famous green papaya salad is best experienced when the ingredients are at their freshest. And since green papayas are not always readily available anywhere else, som tam is definitely a must-try for guests during their stay in Thailand.
Shredded green papaya is tossed with vegetables in a dressing made of lime juice and fish sauce, lending a refreshing quality to the fiber-rich ingredients of the salad. Peanuts are also added for extra crunch and protein.
4. Larb
Another specialty from northern Thailand, larb (pronounced “laab”) is similar to the Laotian dish of the same name, which includes chopped meat dressed with lime juice, fish sauce, and chili peppers and served with leafy vegetables such as cabbage.
While this dish is often made with pork, beef, or chicken, it is also considered relatively healthy due to the low amounts of excess fat used during cooking. Toasted rice is added to the larb for added crunch and flavor, while the cabbage leaves used to wrap the meat for eating are great sources of fiber.
5. Tod Mun Pla
The word pla means “fish” in Thai, and this recipe for Thai-style fish cakes shows why this seafood dish is an easy favorite among locals. For tod mun pla, deboned fish is usually combined with red curry paste, egg, and lime leaves to create patties that are then deep fried and enjoyed as an appetizer.
Tilapia fillets are often used in many recipes for tod mun pla, but it can also be made with any type of white fish available if tilapia is hard to find.
6. Sate Gai
Satay, or skewered grilled meat, is also a common dish throughout Southeast Asia. Thailand’s own sate gai involves marinating chicken in coconut milk with turmeric, salt, and sugar before grilling, which lends juicy tenderness as well as a distinctly unique flavor to the meat.
Sate gai is often served with its own peanut sauce, and can be eaten either as an appetizer or a main entrée.
7. Pad Grapao
Every Southeast Asian country has its own version of an all-occasion rice meal, and Thailand is no exception. A popular breakfast dish in many urban centers of Thailand, pad grapao combines stir-fried ground meat in a spicy sauce with holy basil leaves, which is served with rice and a crispy fried egg.
The resulting dish is hearty and comforting, with the meat and the egg packing a one-two punch of protein, vitamins, and minerals while the rice provides energy from carbs and the chilis and holy basil adding antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
8. Pad See Ew
Considered as a heartier alternative to pad thai, pad see ew involves stir-frying wide rice noodles on high heat with a rich, salty-sweet soy-based sauce. The dark sauce and the high heat combine to add an appetizing texture to the soft rice noodles, making this dish an ideal side for lean meat entrees.
Pad see ew has a spicier version named pad kee mao, or “drunken noodles.” While the recipe has no alcohol in the sauce, the spice levels in pad kee mao are high enough for guests to promptly wash down the heat with a cold beer, thus the “drunkenness.”
Taste The Best that Thailand Has to Offer
These dishes are but some of the many must-try culinary experiences in Thailand, which can range from refreshing salads and fried savories to sweet desserts that are unique to each and every region. At the same time, these classics are also not too complicated for the home cook to master, even after their trips to Thailand.
Ask for any of these menu items by name on your upcoming trip to Phuket or Koh Samui, and your chef will be more than happy to create a plate for you. Whether you’re trying out Thai food for the first time or challenging your tastebuds with different dishes, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the best Thai cuisine that’s waiting to be discovered during your visit.
Discover more Thai specialties in Food and Dining.
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Featured Image by FishandMeat.hk
