Types of food in thailand
Thai Cuisine Overview
Thai food is universally regarded as some of the world's finest, with a variety of dishes that cover noodles, stir-fries, curries, soups, and salads. These dishes are available anywhere from mobile food carts to Michelin-starred restaurants in Bangkok. Thai cuisine enjoys influences from nearby Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, as well as touches of European and Japanese flavors in modern Thai cookery.
Popular Thai Dishes
1. Noodle Soups: Noodle soups are a popular street food dish in Thailand, served any time of day or night. One of the best-loved varieties is Khao Soi, a signature Northern Thailand dish. This Burmese-inspired soup is known for its mildly spicy and fragrant curry broth with a rich coconut milk base, soft egg noodles, and either chicken, beef, or tofu. It's topped with deep-fried crispy egg noodles, pickled vegetables, and sliced shallots.
2. Massaman Curry: Massaman Curry is considered one of the best curries in Thailand. It deviates from traditional Thai curry due to the spices used, which have a Muslim influence from Malaysia. The curry ingredients, such as coriander seed, lemongrass, galangal, chilies, and shrimp paste, are mixed with dried spices like cinnamon, cumin, cardamom, cloves, anise, and nutmeg. The harmony of this curry paste with potatoes, chicken, and coconut milk makes this one of the must-have Thai dishes.
3. Panang Curry: The Panang curry is another must-eat food in Thailand. This dish was created through the interaction of southern Thailand with northern Malaysia. The recipe includes peanuts, which thicken the sauce and make it unique compared to other Thai curries. It also includes coconut milk, chilies, coriander, galangal, and lemongrass.
4. Pad Thai: Pad Thai is another popular dish that many people associate with Thai cuisine. However, it's believed that this dish actually originated from China. Pad Thai has been around for about a century and is now considered the official dish of Thailand.
Ingredients in Thai Cuisine
Thai cuisine often includes several types of eggplant, such as the pea-sized makhuea phuang and the egg-sized makhuea suai. Other vegetables often eaten in Thailand include yardlong beans, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, tomatoes, cucumbers, Chinese kale, sweet potatoes, and corn. Thai food is also known for its complex spices and exotic herbs, which are required to assemble a single dish.
Conclusion
Whether you're dining in the bustling streets of Bangkok or in a high-end restaurant, Thai cuisine offers a wide range of flavors and dishes to explore. From the spicy and fragrant Khao Soi to the rich and creamy Massaman Curry, there's something for everyone in Thai cuisine.
