Dishes to Try in Thailand
It is safe to say that there is a definite love of Thai food around the world. Over the centuries there have been many a poem or story written extolling a love for the spicy intoxication of Thai cuisine.
We could fill an entire book with suggestions to try but after much deliberation, here are ten "Must Try' delights from Thailand.
1. Khao Soi Gai - Chicken Noodle Broth
A deliciously creamy, slightly spicy curry made with a blend of yellow and red curry spices, coconut milk, chicken broth, soy sauce, and sugar. Chicken drumsticks and thighs are typically slow cooked along with all ingredients and should come right off the bone resulting in an incredibly fragrant and flavorful curry noodle broth!
This must-have dish is then topped with a handful of crispy noodles, freshly diced cilantro, with freshly diced red onion, pickled greens, and smoky chili paste on the side.
2. Durian
An Asian delicacy that is possibly not for everyone !
Your first taste of this round, thorny Southeast Asian fruit, will be an unforgettable experience. A rather stinky fruit that definitely divides opinions on it's taste.
3. Tom Kha Kai - Chicken Coconut Soup
Tom Kha Kai is a rich coconut, spicy and sour hot soup.
Often considered a comfort food in Thai households, delivering a dynamic flavor by combing fragrant Thai ingredients like lemongrass, kaffir lime, ginger and galangal root.
4. Massaman
The best Massaman can be found in the South of Thailand.
This chicken or beef curry is rich in flavor, mild in spice a coconut milk base of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, cumin, bay leaves, roasted peanuts, nutmeg and mace are combined with more local flavors such as dried chili peppers, coriander, lemongrass, galangal, white pepper, shrimp paste, shallots and garlic to make massaman curry paste.
5. Fresh Coconut on the beach
A fresh coconut from anywhere is a delight BUT there is really something magical about a fresh, cold, coconut in Thailand.
Drinking coconut water, is an all-natural way to hydrate, they have vitamin C than orange juice and they are the ultimate hangover cure.
6. Kaeng Khiao Wan - Green Chicken Curry
Originating from central Thailand, green curry is the spiciest of them all, with a perfect balance of sweet from the added coconut milk.
Green curry is made from some of the most mouthwatering ingredients, including fresh green chillies, eggplant, and, of course, plenty coconut milk.
Eat with lots of steamed rice to bring down the spice level.
7. Som Tam
A green papaya salad often served with sticky rice, Som Tam is very popular all over Thailand and is strong stable in a typical Thai diet. The most popular version, Som Tum Thai, uses grated raw papaya, cherry tomatoes, long green beans, roasted peanuts, small dried shrimps, fresh chilli and garlic. It is a very quick dish, with all ingredients tossed into a mortar, seasoned with a mix of lime juice, tamarind juice, fish sauce and palm sugar, as a pestle is then used to pound the ingredients to release the flavours.
8. Pad Thai
Pad Thai is a stir-fried rice noodle dish commonly served as a street food and at most restaurants in Thailand. All the ingredients of rice noodles, chicken, beef or tofu, peanuts, a scrambled egg, and bean sprouts and other vegetables are thrown in a hot wok sautéed together, which creates even heat distribution.
Once the dish is completed it is tossed in pad thai sauce flavored with tamarind sauce which gives the dish its signature tangy salty flavor with a hint of sweetness.
9. Yam Woon Sen - Glass Noodle salad
A mung bean clear noodle salad often viewed in Thailand as a good option for those trying to lose weight. A mixture of glass noodles, sliced onions, Chinese celery, fish sauce, lime juice, green bird's eye chillies, peanuts, dried shrimp, minced pork, and sugar. The combination of ingredients and seasonings make this dish delicious. The balance of the hot, spicy, sour dressing and the crunch of the peanuts , dried shrimp for saltiness and flavor and the Chinese celery and cilantro add a fresh zing.
10. Fried Scorpions (if you dare!)
Scorpions are the ultimate when it comes to rare exotic food.
Said to taste much like really good beef jerky, with a slight fishy taste, consumed friend, roasted, grilled, or live. Look out for fried scorpion on a stick at your next street market.