Thailand was once considered a backpackers paradise but the smiling locals, glittering temples and golden beaches of this diverse destination have become a siren’s song for all types of travellers.
Online travel agent, TravelOnline, says Thailand is one of its best-selling holiday destinations and it’s easy to see why. A fun-loving and exotic destination, Thailand is historic and naturally beautiful with its own unique culture.
One of the biggest drawcards to Thailand is the food, which we can guarantee will far surpass your favourite local Thai restaurant. You may have tried some of these dishes before, but experiencing them the authentic Thai way is a totally new experience – like eating pizza in Italy or croissants in France.
Thai cuisine is known for its light food, that is heavy on flavour. Incorporating strong aromatics and bold flavours, Thai food is a fusion of traditional Southeast Asian influences. The flavours of Thai food combine the taste fundamentals of sweet, salty, sour and bitter to achieve complex yet well-balanced flavours.
A cuisine originally introduced by the Chinese, Thai food has evolved over time to become its own traditional culinary style. Thai food features regional dishes unique to northern, southern, central and north-eastern parts of the country. Each region has its own cuisine with signature ingredients and flavours.
Here are the Top 10 Foods to Try in Thailand
Pad Thai
This Thai style fried noodle dish will be a familiar choice for most but are a must-try when visiting Thailand. You absolutely cannot beat the delicious marriage of hand formed noodles, crunchy bean sprouts, sweet onions and creamy egg smothered in this famous savoury sauce. Combining sugar, fish sauce, chilli and ground peanuts results in a tasty mountain of noodle goodness that is the perfect balance between soft, chewy and crunchy.
Fried Rice
Another familiar option for those who aren’t feeling too adventurous, this popular lunch dish is known as Khao Pad by the locals. A tasty way to use up leftover vegetables, this delicious dish combines rice, vegetables, chilli, basil, onion and egg with your choice of protein. Think white meats like chicken, prawn or crab. Served with a wedge of lime and sliced cucumber this is a hearty yet refreshing meal.
READ MORE: 25 Awesome Things to Do in Thailand
Green Chicken Curry
If you love a creamy curry, you won’t find a more authentic version than this. The complex flavour profile of green curry paste is rounded out with coconut milk and simmered with sweet basil, coriander, fresh bamboo shoots, mini eggplant and succulent chicken. Served hot over fragrant rice to soak up all that delicious sauce you’ll be in curry heaven. Look for Gaeng Keow Wan Kai on the menu if you want to try this one.
Spicy Beef Salad
For all the meat lovers who want to maintain their beach bods, this fiery yet fresh salad offers all the flavour of a meat hit without the after meal bloat. Tender beef strips are marinated in a bold, spicy and flavoursome sauce then grilled to perfection and served atop a mountain of fresh leaves, spearmint, coriander, dried chilli, lime and onion. The Thai call it Yam Nua but we just call it yum!
Red Curry
When in Thailand, try all the different curries on offer. Also known as Gaeng Daeng, this red curry is also coconut based and achieves a fragrant, delicate and sweet taste by combining traditional red curry paste and coconut milk and simmering your choice of meat until tender. Add kaffir lime leaves and this mild curry transforms into something really special.
Morning Glory
Thai food offers offers a wide variety of vegetable dishes. Morning glory, also known as Pak Boong, this leafy green is common around Southeast Asia and is characterised by hollow stems and delicate leaves. When combined with chilli, garlic, fermented black bean, oyster sauce and fish sauce you get this quick and easy side dish that will soon become a favourite.
READ MORE: Guide To Backpacking Thailand
Spicy Shrimp Soup
You might have seen this dish on menus back home as Tom Yum Goong, but we guarantee you’ve never tasted it quite like this. Drawing on the complex balance of taste fundamentals, this soup gets its bold and refreshing palette from the combination of lime juice, lemongrass, shallots, chilli and galangal. Fresh prawns and straw mushrooms add some oomph and help to round out this soup’s hot, spicy and sour finish.
Chicken Cashew Nut
A favourite with both tourists and locals, this classic dish combines sweet and savoury flavours for an irresistible contrast. Honey, soy sauce and chilli are simmered with carrot, onions, mushrooms and succulent sautéed chicken then finished with roasted cashews for a mouth-watering combination of textures. If you’re looking for this familiar favourite on the menu, look for Kai Med Ma Muang.
Spicy Green Papaya Salad
Although this can be an acquired taste, you simply have to try it when visiting Thailand. Also known as Som Tum, this interesting salad combines crunchy green beans, juicy cherry tomatoes and raw papaya with a sweet, spicy and sour paste of ground chilli and garlic. Depending on where you are, you may have the opportunity to try regional variations that use peanuts, dry shrimp or salted crab.
Chicken in Coconut Soup
If you prefer your spice to create flavour rather than heat than this milder version of a Tom Yum Soup will be a winner. Known in Thai as Tom Kha Kai, this flavoursome soup combines fresh lime leaves, lemongrass, shallots, chilli and ginger. Tender chicken strips and warm coconut milk smooth out the chilli kick into a pleasant spicy hum.
READ MORE: A Digital Nomad Guide to Living in Bangkok, Thailand
Dig In!
Whether you’re dining out at a restaurant or grabbing a meal on the go from a street vendor, sampling the traditional Thai food on offer is an essential part of your Thailand experience. These are just a few of our favourites, but with such variety on offer there are new flavours to discover at every meal.
The post Top 10 Foods To Try in Thailand appeared first on Goats On The Road.
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