Thai chicken with cashew nuts (video)
There are plenty of tourists who would like to get acquainted with Thai cuisine but are afraid that it is too spicy. Well, there are plenty of alternatives such as Sweet & Sour, but also the always delicious chicken with cashew nuts or Gai Pad Med Mamuang Himaphan.
The history of Thai cuisine
Until 1939, the country we now call Thailand was known as Siam. It was the only Southeast Asian country never to have been colonized by a Western country, which allowed it to cultivate its eating habits with its own special dishes. But that does not mean that Thailand was not influenced by its Asian neighbors.
Thai recipes: Green curry with chicken
Green curry is a Central Thai recipe. The name is derived from the color of the dish, which comes from green chillies. The curry is normally sharper than the milder red curries. The ingredients – especially the vegetables – are not necessarily fixed in advance.
How to avoid the sharp side of Thai cuisine?
The versatile Thai kitchen has a number of spicy to very sharp dishes due to the addition of red chili peppers. Not everyone likes that and there are people who are even allergic to those peppers. There are plenty of Thai dishes that are not sharp, so it is important to know how to avoid those sharp dishes.
Thai recipe: Chicken with cashew nuts (Gai Pad Med Mamuang)
Gai Pad Med Mamuang (Stir-fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts) is not originally from Thailand, but from China. Translated into Dutch, the dish was called “Kung Pao Kip”. The Thai only changed the dish in one place: the original peanuts were exchanged for cashews.
Yum Woon Sen, spicy noodle salad with shrimps
Today there is a spicy noodle salad with shrimps on the menu. One of our favourites! The noodles absorb the delicious flavors of the sauce, which you can make as spicy as you like.
You can't stop talking about Thai cuisine. The enormous variety and delicious dishes always provide culinary surprises. Massaman curry has interesting origins and is influenced by both Thai and Persian cuisines. The name “Massaman” probably comes from the word “Mussulman”, an old word for Muslim, indicating the Persian and Indian influences brought to Thailand by Muslim traders.
World famous Thai cuisine: regional dishes (video)
Thailand geographically consists of four distinct regions: the Central Region, the North, the Northeast (often referred to as Isan), and the South. These four regions developed their own unique and distinctive dishes. You can see some examples of this in this video.
Yam Nua, a spicy Thai steak salad
Yam Nua is a spicy salad of grilled steak with a dressing of lime juice, fish sauce, sugar and chili peppers called nam yam. The salad consists of lettuce, spring onion and fresh herbs and is served lukewarm. A topper from Thai cuisine, which is popular with many people.
If you are not a fan of spicy Thai food, there are plenty of alternatives. A real Thai classic is Pad Preaw Wan or stir-fried chicken in sweet and sour sauce.
Thai cuisine: Nam phrik (a kind of Thai sambal)
Nam phrik is perhaps the most important part of Thai cuisine. It is actually a kind of dipping sauce that Thais make themselves and eat with almost every dish. There are many types of Nam phrik, you can actually speak of Thai sambal because chili peppers are the main ingredient.
Kuay Jab Noodle soup, aroi mak mak!
Maybe not as well known as Pad Thai but very tasty that is Kuay jab noodle soup. The rice noodles are a bit different than you are used to, it looks like penne pasta. The ingredients can vary, usually pork is used and boiled eggs.
Top 10 Thai dishes
It goes without saying that Thai cuisine is tasty and world famous. The food is tasty, varied, nutritious and ready quickly. You can have a Thai meal on the table within 20 minutes. Handy in our busy lives.
Top 5 Noodle Soups in Thailand (Video)
Noodle soup is an important part of Thai cuisine, but originally comes from China. As the name says, the main ingredient is noodles which are presented in a light broth along with other ingredients.
Nam phrik (Thai spicy chili sauce)
Nam phrik (น้ำพริก) is a kind of spicy chilli sauce or paste typical of Thai cuisine and somewhat similar to the Indonesian and Malaysian sambals. The usual ingredients for nam phrik are fresh or dry chillies, garlic, shallots, lime juice and often fish or shrimp paste. The ingredients are pounded and mixed using a mortar and pestle and salt or fish sauce is added to taste. Each region has its own special version.
Ruam Mit – Thai dessert
Today no main course but a dessert. For those with a sweet tooth: Ruam Mit (รวมมิตร). Ruam mit is a popular Thai dessert made with various ingredients such as coconut milk, sugar, tapioca pearls, corn, lotus root, sweet potatoes, beans and jackfruit.
Isaanse Suea rong hai (howling tiger) grilled beef
This time a special dish from Isaan: Suea rong hai (howling tiger), in Thai: เสือ ร้องไห้ A delicacy with a beautiful legend about the name. Suea rong hai is a popular dish from the Northeast of Thailand (Isaan). It is grilled beef (the brisket), seasoned with spices and served with sticky rice and other dishes. The name is based on a local myth, the “howling tiger”.
Today an unusual dish with a somewhat strange name. Pla Chon Lui Suan is special because of the fish that looks rather ugly. Thais call it a snake head fish. Don't be put off by that because the fish tastes divine. The dish Pla Chon Lui Suan consists of steamed fish in combination with various vegetables and herbs, covered with a spicy fresh garlic-like sauce that gives the taste a big boost. The combination of fish and vegetables is highly recommended.
Yam Pla Duk Foo (fried catfish with fresh mango dressing)
A delicious dish from Central Thailand for fish lovers: Yam Pla Duk Foo (fried catfish) ยำ ปลา ดุก ฟู A light and crunchy dish that can count on great popularity among Thai people.
Yam Mamuang (green mango salad) with video
Today a fresh green mango salad with shrimps: Yam Mamuang ยำมะม่วง This Thai green mango salad is prepared with Nam Dok Mai Mango, which is unripe mango. The texture of the green mango is crunchy, with a fresh sweet and sour taste. Somewhat similar to a green apple. The pieces of mango are prepared into a salad with roasted peanuts, red shallots, green onion, coriander and large fresh shrimps.
Mi krop (fried rice vermicelli with sweet and sour sauce)
Mi krop is a fried rice vermicelli with a sweet and sour sauce, which originally comes from ancient China. Mi krop (หมี่ กรอบ) means “crispy noodles”. The dish is made with thin rice noodles and a sauce that is predominantly sweet, but can be offset with a sour flavor, usually lemon or lime. The sour/citrus flavor that is prominent in this dish often comes from the peel of a Thai citrus fruit called 'som sa'.
Pad Sataw (Stink Beans)
There are many exotic Thai dishes but you should definitely try this one. You almost fall off your chair how surprisingly delicious this dish is. Pad sataw may have a strange name because this Southern cuisine dish is also called stink bean or bitter bean. Don't be put off by this name.