Top 5 Thai Food Dishes
A version of som tam that contains pla ra (a sauce made of fermented fish) and brined rice paddy crabs. It is a northern Thai speciality.
Salmon, white tuna, yellowtail and crabmeat wrapped in pink soybean paper with tobiko. Served with avocado and cucumber. The salad is topped with a sweet and spicy sauce.
Pad Thai
Pad Thai is one of the most famous dishes in Thai cuisine. It is a popular street food in Thailand and a staple on many Thai restaurant menus around the world.
It is thought that pad thai emerged as a result of a rice shortage in Thailand during World War II. As a way to reduce consumption of rice, the government encouraged people to eat noodles instead.
The traditional recipe calls for a combination of rice sticks (aka mung bean vermicelli), shallots, garlic, scrambled eggs and a protein; typically chicken or shrimp in a delicious tangy pad Thai sauce. It is topped with bean sprouts, crushed peanuts and scallions.
The dish is best enjoyed with a squeeze of fresh lime juice and is often garnished with cilantro, if desired.
Tom Yum Goong
Tom yum goong is one of the most famous Thai dishes in the world. It is a hot and sour soup that normally contains shrimp but it can be made with chicken or pork. It is also often served with mushrooms and other vegetables as a vegetarian alternative.
This dish is rich, creamy and herbal. It has a legendary reputation as a cure for the common cold because it helps clear your sinuses and warms you up. It is delicious when eaten with a bit of steamed jasmine rice.
A key to a flavorful Tom Yum is a well-made stock. To make this, combine shallots, lemongrass, galangal and makrut / lime leaves with water and simmer for 10 minutes. You may want to add a teaspoon of fish sauce as well.
Tom Kha Gai
A rich coconut milk soup, Tom Kha Gai is tangy and citrusy, with a salty, yet smooth umami flavor. A simple recipe, it’s naturally gluten free and can easily be made vegan (simply omit the chicken).
It’s a dish that features the four classic S flavors of Thai cuisine: sweet, sour, salty, and spicy. While the soup itself is light, it’s also filling.
To make Tom Kha Gai, you’ll need lemongrass, galangal root, and kaffir lime leaves. Luckily, they’re all easy to find at most Asian markets and online stores. For the best flavor, try to use fresh herbs whenever possible; but if you can’t find them, don’t worry! The dish will still turn out delicious. Just make sure to use a good-quality store-bought tamarind paste instead.
Green Papaya Som Tam
A jumble of crispy, unripe green papaya, roasted peanuts, tomatoes, yard long beans, garlic and dried shrimp drenched in an unmistakably Thai salad dressing that hits all the right notes: spicy, tangy, sweet, salty. This nutritious dish is a must-try when visiting Thailand.
The dressing is a crucial component to the unique flavor of this salad. A combination of lime juice, vegetable oil, fish sauce, palm sugar (or granulated sugar) and crushed chili peppers are used to make this dressing.
Ideally this salad should be made using a mortar and pestle but if you don’t have one that’s okay! A heavy-duty food processor will also do the trick. Simply combine the ingredients and pulverize a few times until everything is finely chopped. Lightly bashing and shifting the mixture with a spoon while you’re doing it is important.