Did you know that Thai cuisine is one of the most popular in the world? In a recent international “reader’s pick” poll of delicious foods, numerous Thai dishes are consistently found among the favorites, ranking them among the most popular.
And with the Thai cook’s skillful blending of fresh herbs, spicy sauces, and distinctive flavors, it’s a small wonder that this tantalizing cuisine is a favorite for many.
So let’s check out some of the factors that make the tastes of Thailand so well liked, and then we’ll look at how to create them for ourselves, with a couple of authentic recipes that demonstrate why these dishes are such a hit.
Common Flavors Among Neighbors
Thailand and her close neighbors have influenced one another over the course of many centuries in food, culture, and traditions.
Within the national cuisine called “Thai,” numerous regional variations in dishes and traditions tend to correlate to the proximity of neighboring states.
Not surprisingly, both sides of a given border will often have similar cultural backgrounds and ethnicities, as well as sharing a similar climate and geography.
Neighboring states of Myanmar (formerly Burma), Laos, China, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam have all had regional influences to some degree, with many popular Thai dishes actually being Chinese in origin.
In the fifteenth and later eighteenth centuries, immigration from China led to strong influences on flavors in the northeast. And, early traders from India and Persia introduced the use of spices, both dried and fresh, that gave rise to Thai adaptations of popular dishes like curry.
Western influence began in the early 1500s with the arrival of the Portuguese, and later included French, Dutch, and English expansionists.
And while Western interests never led to the colonization of Thailand (formerly Siam), it did lead to a common recipe variation that’s become a signature of many beloved Thai dishes – the substitution of coconut milk for cow’s milk.
At first used to create sweets for visiting dignitaries, soon the rich and nutty milk found its way into entree adaptations of Portuguese dishes that are still found on today’s menus.
Perhaps the most significant introduction of an outside flavor was that of chili peppers from the Americas in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, arguably one of the most important ingredients in Thai cooking today.
当时引入的其他一些重要食物包括西红柿，玉米，木瓜，豌豆，茄子，pineapple,pumpkins,cilantro,cashews, and peanuts.All are still very much in use in contemporary dishes today.
新鲜食材
从肥沃的河谷到高山高原，泰国的景观茂密而变化。而且，这种巨大的多样性反映在泰国厨房中使用的广泛可用的新鲜食材清单中。
Thai cuisine is internationally known for the use offresh herbs, spices, and aromatic roots in almost all dishes, and it is composed of four elements: sour, salty, sweet, and spicy.
Some Thai dishs are notorious for their tropical-tinged heat. But the nice thing about cooking Thai: you can balance outdishes that get too spicy泰国的标志性成分,like coconut milk or citrus, without altering their authenticity.
Common flavors include garlic, galangal, coriander or cilantro, lemongrass, shallots, pepper, kaffir lime leaves, shrimp paste, fish sauce, and chilies. Palm sugar is used as a sweetener, while lime and tamarind are common sour flavors.
Delicious and flavorful sauces and pastes are also widely used, created by grinding fresh herbs and spices with a mortar and pestle, and then combining these with a fragrant, salty fish sauce – commonly used as a condiment for many dishes.
虾酱是另一种多功能成分，通常用作辣椒和咖喱糊的基础，酱油也是如此。不幸的是，这可能是重要的problem for those with shellfish or soy allergies– but not if you are making these dishes at home, which enables you to have full control over the contents.
With its lengthy coastline and the many rivers that empty into the Bight of Bangkok, fish, crustaceansand shellfish of both fresh and salt water varietiesare an important part of the cuisine as well.
But, by far, rice is the number one ingredient used in cooking. Rice is actually synonymous with the Thai word for food. There’s also a variety of noodles used in Thai dishes that are typically made from rice, wheat, or mung bean flours. Overall, Thai cooking includes plenty of options for those on agluten-free diet。
Staples of Thai Cooking
Among some of the staples of Thai cooking you’ll find:
- coconut milk
- fresh turmeric
- curries
- chili peppers
- rice
常用和传统口味包括草药和香料，例如：
- kaffir lime leaves
- Thai basil
- lemongrass
- coriander or cilantro
- spearmint
- galangal
- ginger
- garlic
- cumin
- cinnamon
- 豆蔻
- 咖喱粉
- peppercorns
- 各种其他“特殊香料混合物”
Banana leaves are often used for wrapping and packaging dishes, while the vegetables of choice are eggplant, beans, bamboo shoots,tomatoes, cucumbers, Chinese kale, bok choy, sweet potatoes, squash, and corn. Several types of greens, mushrooms, and flowers are used in this type of cooking as well.
Fruit is served fresh or with a spicy dip, and may include a selection of papaya,mango, lychees,pineapple苹果、柚子和玫瑰。
And of course, coconuts are important – using every part including the milk,oil, and meat. Most meals are finished with fresh fruit and occasionally a sweet, often prepared with coconut.
Traditions
Some additional culinary traditions that may still be found in Thai households include eating with the right hand, while seated on mats or carpets on the floor.
Western influence gained more ground when kitchen tables and chairs were introduced to the country in the early 1800s, while cutlery, particularly the fork and spoon, first came along in the late 1800s.
传统的陶瓷汤匙可用于汤，而桌子上通常找不到刀。粘性米还用作食用器皿，形成球，然后浸入酱汁中。
Foodal recommendsAndy Ricker’s Pok Pok: Food and Stories from the Streets, Homes, and Roadside Restaurants of Thailand
从历史上看,大多数泰国人用手吃s, as chopsticks were an import from China. In today’s culture, they’re mainly used for Chinese-style noodle soups, often found at Chinese, Japanese, or Korean restaurants.
每天的泰国餐通常包括几件：米饭，生或煮熟的蔬菜，带有美味或蘸酱，类似肉汤的汤，咖喱或炖肉，以及油炸或炒的肉，海鲜或炒菜或炒菜蔬菜。
Sliced cucumbers and plain sticky rice are standard sides dishes used to cool the heat of the spices.
And then there is the custom of “Royal Thai Cuisine.” While the dishes themselves don’t include different ingredients or flavors, there are some nuances in presentation and appearance that set this style apart from everyday fare:
- There are no extremes in the royal versions of dishes, meaning nothing is too spicy hot, and nothing too bland. All ingredients will be in harmonious proportion and balance.
- You won’t find any bones in a royal dish, be it fish, pork, or poultry.
- Fruits and vegetables will have all of the seeds, pits, and peels removed before preparation. And fruits and vegetables may be elaborately carved, for the sake of aesthetics in presentation, and used as decorations.
- Royal dishes are prepared in the most creative ways, beautifully arranged and displayed in colorful porcelain dishes.
Cooking Methods
If you’re looking for a “secret” to successfully create superb Thai dishes, it’s in taking the time to prepare the entire list of ingredients before the actual cooking starts.
This step is particularly significant when you are cooking with a wok – the pace is intense, the heat high, andfood is cooked in a short period of time.You don’t want to be dithering about crushing chilies or chopping chives while everything else is cooking on high.
Foodal recommendsSimple Thai Food: Classic Recipes from the Thai Home Kitchen by Leela Punyaratabandhu
Thai food is characteristically fresh and crisp, with brightly colored vegetables和烤蛋白质由于快速而热的烹饪方式，这会保留重要的营养。为了保持这种快节奏的样式，以下步骤将有所帮助：
- 开始你的准备工作ns with any instructions for making a paste, or grinding spices. You can use a food processor, but a more “hands-on” approach is the traditional Thai methodof crushing and grinding with a mortar and pestlefor the best possible flavors. If you don’t have one, a spice mill will work as well. Have your spices, pastes, and sauces pre-measured into small ramekins, and lined up in the order required, close to your cooking station.
- The next step is to chop all the veggies into the required shapes and sizes, then stack in cooking order with the spices and pastes, on the counter close to the stove.
- 接下来，切碎蛋白质。切成薄片并与其他成分一起安排任何海鲜，家禽，肉，豆腐或肉类替代品。与准备煮熟物品相比，分别准备新鲜的肉和蔬菜，并使用单独的器皿，以避免交叉污染。
- And finally, have your serving platter clean, warm, and ready to go for serving what you’ve made piping hot from the wok.
In Thailand, chefs commonly use coconut or peanut oils for stir-frying and deep-frying, and for stir-frying, most recipes call for a medium-high to high heat.
实际的烹饪方法真的很简单，只需要几个工具和器皿。砂浆和杵是一种基础烹饪工具，along with a wok(ora deep frying panif you don’t have one), which is used along with wooden spoons or spatulas for stir frying.
Grills, hot pots, Thaiclay pots, steam basketsand rice cookersare other basics, as are bamboo skewers, fruit and vegetable carving sets, andsharp, well-balanced cooks’ knives and cleavers.
Grilling
Thai people do love their fresh seafood and grilled meats, which are usually eaten after dipping intosweet and sourflavored dips.
Grilling is done with various heat sources in theform of coals or charcoal、电动烧烤the oven or the stove top, using a heavy griddle pan.
In Thai cooking, meats and other proteins are exposed directly to the heat, or wrapped in leaves or foil, “en papillote” style. Screwpine and banana leaves are commonly used for wrapping, for the lovely fragrances they impart to the cooked food.
Stir Frying
The stir-fry is a method of cooking with direct influence from China, although stir-frying is common all over Thailand. To utilize this quick and no-frills technique, ensure that the wok is hot before adding the oil, then allow it to heat quickly before adding your other ingredients.
Stir quickly with a spatula to heat through, and as soon as the food is cooked, dish it up and serve hot.
因为搅拌过程是如此之快，请在加热锅之前准备所有成分并准备就绪，以确保某些成分不会过度煮熟或燃烧。迅速将食材扔掉，以便快速甚至烹饪。
Try ourrecipe for Sriracha tofu, green bean, and carrot stir-fryto have fun with this technique!
Stewing and Braising
Stewing helps to retain the full flavors and nutritional goodness of the ingredients, and is superb for tenderizing tougher cuts of meat.
在泰国炖菜中，成分被切成相似的碎片，并将其放入足够的液体中以完全浸入它们。锅被覆盖并用低火放置，以缓慢炖。
汁或汤将有时陪dish as a side, or it may be eitherthickened into gravyorreduced to make a pan sauce。炖肉通常在陶瓷菜中送达。
Steaming
Steaming is another popular method, traditionally using bamboo steamer sets to cook the ingredients over boiling liquid in the wok below.
A nutritious and healthy means of cooking food, for best results use only the freshest ingredients, and cover tightly with a lid to keep the steam in.
Deep Frying
Deep frying is usually donein a wok or a deep pan, and the temperature of the oil is critical to success. Oil that’s not hot enough will result in greasy food, while overheated oil will burn the ingredients.
Foodal recommendsDave Thompson’s Thai Street Food
For most Thai dishes, the optimum temperature for deep frying is 350°F. Use a long-handled wire strainer or tongs to remove deep fried foods and drain on a wire rack over absorbent paper, as this will help the food to stay crisp.
Boiling
An important technique in Thai cooking, tasty soups and curries are achieved with well-timed boiling of ingredients.
Salads
Whilesalad preparationisn’t really a technique as such, these dishes are an important part of Thai meals, with their strong tastes and fresh ingredients.
Vegetables and meat are cut into small pieces, combining sourness and saltiness with some spice for heat. Less spicy chili-free dressings are usually available as well, if desired.
A Couple of Easy Thai Recipes For You To Try
That concludes our overview of the sumptuous tastes of Thailand! If you want to explore it a bit further, try out our delicious recipes for authentic Pad Thai or Chicken Satay – if you like Thai food, they’re sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to your face.
Pad Thai with Shrimp
There are many variations of Pad Thai available, so it may be helpful to keep the three primary flavors of salty, sweet, and sour in mind when preparing your version of this popular dish.
麻辣花生和黄瓜鸡肉沙爹萨拉d
This delicious chicken satay is marinated, skewered, and then grilled with a spicy peanut sauce – all made from scratch. Easy to make, it’s the perfect one-handed appetizer, ideal for snacking and socializing at the same time… great forsummertime backyard parties!
AboutLorna Kring
Recently retired as a costume specialist in the TV and film industry, Lorna now enjoys blogging on contemporary lifestyle themes. A bit daft about the garden, she’s particularly obsessed with organic tomatoes and herbs, and delights in breaking bread with family and friends.
Yum, I love Thai food, and there really aren’t that many Thai restaurants near me, so I’ve also become familiar with Vietnamese food, which is more prevalent where I live. I enjoy both, and think your description of how to prepare all of the ingredients in advance, especially ordering them as they will be used, will be particularly helpful as I teach myself to prepare these dishes.
两种美食都很棒，充满了令人垂涎的口味。而且您是对的黛安，一点点的预先准备将使成功掌握这些菜肴大有帮助。
泰国拥有丰富的烹饪历史。我喜欢他们的食物，因为所有浓郁而大胆的口味。不幸的是，我的城市根本没有餐馆，亚洲食材也很难获得。我已经尽力重新创建了一些食谱。他们结果很好，但我希望有一天能品尝到真正的交易。
Thanks for your comments Nids. It is difficult without any good sources nearby, but adapting recipes to suit can bring about some pretty good results until you can try the real deal.
Many years ago, I went to elementary school with a class mate that was Thai and her parents owned a restaurant near the school. The teachers decided to go visit the restaurant as a field trip and it was the first time many of us experienced eating this style of food including myself.
Sounds like my kind of field trip! Thanks for commenting Jasmine.
我一直喜欢泰国食物！我不是最好的做，那是我女朋友的专业！她做了一些我品尝过的最好的。我将这些食谱传递给她。他们看起来绝对很棒！
Lucky for you to have someone who specializes in this style of food… Enjoy the recipes!
在泰国美食爱好者中算我。味道很棒，食材通常与我自己的饮食非常紧密。没有什么比很好的绿色木瓜沙拉和泰式垫子更像了，我很幸运能够住一些可爱的餐厅。并不是说我经常拜访他们！
How fortunate to live close to good Thai restaurants… there’s none close to my home, so it’s my kitchen or a trip into town.
Thai food is amazing so thanks for these recipes – I’ve already decided to try the satay tomorrow night. I’ll definitely be upping the chilli though!
Enjoy the satay missbishi, heat and all!
I’ve also found that Thai food shares many similarities with food of South India. In both curries, there is a prevalent usage of coconut milk and grated coconut, as well as heavy doses of cumin and garlic, and although the taste seems different at first, if you eat enough of both food, you get to notice many similarities in taste . It probably reflects shared culture during the times when a lot of South Indian merchants traveled from India to Thailand, such as around the time of emperor Asoka, or maybe due to similar climates and environments. I haven’t seen any literature confirming this, just my own theory!
Commerce and trade have certainly played a major role in the transfer and development of ideas, and cooking is one area that’s always influenced by these factors… there certainly is a lot of similarities between the two cuisines. Thanks for your comments Raman_U.
Interesting article, I didn’t know Thai cuisine has such a rich history. It’s on my bucket list to visit Thailand one day as I love the food. Unfortunately though, there aren’t any estaurants in my area, so I’ve got to do my best to recreate it at home.
The peanut chicken satay looks incredible. I’m having a dinner party next week and I think my guests would love it. I might have to nix the chilli though, they may not be able to handle the heat!
I hope you and your guests enjoy the satay, maybe just serve some hot sauce or chili relish on the side for those who enjoy the extra inferno effect.
Although I have eaten many of these foods in different forms and varieties I don’t think I have ever had a Thai meal. These recipes and different food combinations are mouth watering. I had no idea they used so many different flavors and varieties in their cooking. It would appear that their diet is a healthy one. I will certainly try these out.
For the most part Thai cuisine is quite light and refreshing oraclemay, hope you enjoy the recipes.
I’m always impressed when I read about Thailand and their cuisine. They have a lot of different flavors which makes their food unique. With that in mind, cooking some of their dishes is pretty hard so you have to have a little bit of knowledge before attempting to cook something with Thai origins.
You’re absolutely right fuzyon, a little knowledge goes a long ways to successful Thai dishes… and a good Asian market helps!
感谢您提供有关泰国美食的所有重要信息。我一般喜欢亚洲美食，但泰国美食可能是我的最爱。我喜欢美食如何将咸味，酸味，辣味和甜味结合在一起，将所有最好的口味结合在一起。制作是如此复杂和有趣。我喜欢在菜肴中使用新的，独特的和难以在菜肴中成分，泰国食品绝对拥有所有这些。我一定必须查看您的食谱建议才能了解更多信息。
As you say lebrennan, it’s a rich and wonderful combo of flavors… and a bit of an adventure to make as well, but the results make it all worthwhile!
Reading this post made me crave for Thai food! Perhaps what’s most interesting here is the culture of the people. They live a really simple life but their dishes are just extraordinary. I am also a fan of their creativity in using their local ingredients. Pad Thai is one of my favorite Thai dishes. I like the idea of it being a complete meal. You have your carbs, protein and veggies all in one plate. I will definitely try your recipe! For sure it will be yummy. Thanks!
Both the culture and cuisine are lovely. Hope you enjoy the Pad Thai!
Thank you so much Lorna for rocking once again my kitchen world. Wow you have blown my mind with all this awesome information. You know, I’m a big fan of food and like to eat out a lot, and I’ve always been enamored by these types of dishes, but never thought I could pull them off at home. That is until today. Thank you for taking the time into going into such depth and detail for us, oh and for providing us with a back story. I can’t wait to give these recipes a try!
Happy to rock your kitchen Michelle! At first they do seem a little too exotic for making at home – but really, it’s just a matter of practice. You’ll be enamored with your own dishes in no time. So glad you enjoyed the post!
I’ve tried making Pad Thai, but it just tastes different somehow from the one I had in Thailand. The only difference was that I didn’t own a wok.
The high temperatures definitely make a really huge difference to the outcome of the dish!
Usually my first efforts at trying a new cuisine aren’t quite right either Cheddar – it just takes a bit of patience and experimentation. Thanks for your comments.
I have spent a lot of time in Asia. I’ve traveled to Thailand many times. The food is amazing. Thai restaurants in other countries just don’t do the food justice. Reading this article reminded me of some the outstanding flavors I encountered on my travels. Coconut milk, basil, turmeric, curry….wow!
I’ve only tried to recreate Thai curries at home without much success. I’ve eaten my share of Pad Thai from street vendors, but never considered trying to make it at home. I will give your recipe a try. Thanks.
Their flavors really are outstanding Phoenix, and worth the effort of trying your hand at them in your own kitchen. Hope you enjoy the Pad Thai!
来自美洲的辣椒辣椒的一点非常有用。我一直以为辣椒在泰国长大。在泰国度假之前，我认为我对泰国食品有品味。哈哈，男孩，当我在2012年在那里尝试的大多数菜太过辣而无法满足我的喜好时，我觉醒了。因此，我认为这一定是因为他们有大量的辣椒供应，只需将辣椒加入食谱中即可。我从没想过它来自外部影响。
The difference between the real deal and what we find in westernized restaurants is usually jarring saravet… it takes a while for our palates to catch up with what locals can handle.
有趣的是，辣椒等成分的迁移如何影响一个地区的美食？很高兴您喜欢这个帖子。
Oh, that Bangkok trip was indeed very enlightening! You’re right, it actually took a while before I could adjust. Haha, there was a time that I surrendered and actually went to an American fastfood. I think it was a KFC, and I thought I was safe there. Haha, I ordered what I thought was just ordinary hot and spicy chicken. I was shocked when the meal was bathed with peppers! I eventually had to switch food with a friend. My poor friend had to hastily look for milk to counter the spiciness! Oh, fun memories.
It is indeed very interesting how interaction with neighboring and foreign countries can be a big influence on local cuisines. My country is testament to that – with China being a big influence to our own cooking.
Thai has almost been a favorite in our family. It freshens and beautiful array of flavors is wonderful. However, I have never attempted to make my own Thai dish as I always fear of marring this beautiful cuisine.
Although, I may try this recipe….
The blending of flavors is something wonderful Lupa06, and not so difficult to do at home – I hope you give it a try!
I’m not at all surprised that Thai is the most popular kind of cuisine. I can’t get enough of it myself. Such a wide and exciting range of flavours. Thai curries are to die for and I love what they do with sea food. I think my favourite part is the basil that they use. It’s got to be one of the most prominently used ingredients in Thai cooking. Can’t get enough of it!
I’m totally with you on the basil psanch, it’s hard to think of a food it doesn’t go with! Thanks for your thoughts.
I enjoy a lot of Thai food, but my favourite is a green curry made with chicken or prawns; there’s just something about that combination of flavours that is creamy yet quite refreshing at the same time – utterly delicious. I haven’t had a green curry in a while, but this recipe has got my taste buds tingling for one.
Green curry does have a unique and delicious flavor uk… hope you satisfy those taste buds soon!
No, I didn’t know that this was the most popular cuisine in the world. I’ve learned something today! I would have thought Chinese or Indian cuisines more wide spread and more popular that Thai. However, I’d have voted for Thai because it is so subtle and stunning.
Subtle and stunning sums it up nicely Julie, it’s definitely a taste treat!
Well this might just have to be another one that I just print out and keep around in the kitchen for a little inspiration. I have always loved Thai food but have always been a little intimidated by it when it comes to preparing some myself, but this will certainly help me there. I have to say that seeing the chili pepper influence in the dishes got my mouth watering a bit too, so I have that to look forward to. Thanks for sharing.
A little inspiration can go a long way to satisfying those taste buds rz! Enjoy!