Thailand is no doubt one of the most beautiful exotic locations in the world. There are many reasons as to why people choose Thailand as their holiday destination. Apart from being highly affordable, the glorious golden beaches of Thailand and the vibrant nightlife are the primary reasons which beckon people to visit this lovely country.
Of course, food is also a big motivating factor for people who are contemplating about taking a vacation in Thailand. Thai cuisine is extremely popular all over the world, and the best way to treat your taste buds with delicious dishes from this cuisine is to visit the 'Land of Smiles’, i.e. Thailand. Thai food in general is very spicy and made from a wide range of ingredients. Also, one would notice that there is often a balance of five flavors in this cuisine, i.e. bitter, sour, sweet, salty and of course spicy.
1. Tom Yum Goong – This classic Thai soup is a must-try when you’re in the country. The soup is made from a blend of fragrant herbs, vegetables and seasonings such as lime leaves, shallots, lemongrass, galangal, chilli, fish sauce, etc. Straw mushrooms and succulent shrimps are also added to the soup to give it more character. The spicy and sour soup has a distinct smell, one that gets your mouth watering the moment you get a whiff of it!
2. Gaeng Daeng or Red Curry
You cannot really visit Thailand without feasting on classic dishes like Gaeng Daeng or Red Curry. Often served with steamed rice, this fiery red curry is made from a variety of meat, red curry paste and coconut milk. Of course, you’ll also find kaffir leaves in it, which render the 'Thai’ factor to this curry and get the mouth to salivate instantly! Sometimes, an assortment of vegetables are also dunked into the curry.
3. Gaeng Keow Wan Kai or Green Curry
How can you leave out this classic Thai dish after you’ve feasted on Gaeng Daeng or Red Curry? Green curry is definitely one of the most popular dishes in Thailand, what’s more, it is loved by foreigners or tourists too! Made mostly with chicken morsels, bamboo shoots, sweet basil, aubergines, etc and thickened with coconut milk, green curry is a humble yet delicious curry. Just like its red counterpart, green curry is served with a bowl of freshly steamed rice on the side.
4. Kai Med Ma Muang or Chicken with cashew nuts
If you’re a fan of non-veg stiry fry dishes then you’ll love this one. The contrasting texture of tender juicy chicken cubes against the crunchy and nutty flavor of cashew nuts makes this dish an instant hit amongst travelers! Vegetables such as onion, carrots, mushroom and dry red chilies are included in this dish as well. It is then topped off with a dash of sweet soy sauce and honey to give it some oomph!
5. Mango Sticky Rice
You cannot really leave Thailand without trying on this delicious sweet dish. Sushi lovers would take a liking to this popular dish made from sweet ripened mangoes, sticky rice and a syrup made with coconut cream. This is a very versatile dish as it can be a snack or a dessert!
6. Kai Jeow
Omlette, sweet chili sauce and steamed white rice – does this sound like the perfect combination for breakfasts? While it may seem unappealing or even appalling, but these three things combine together in the most wonderful manner, like a marriage made in heaven, to form this highly filling breakfast dish.
7. Kuay Teow Moo Daeng or Red Pork Noodle Soup
This one is a popular street food in Thailand. The flavorful and aromatic pork broth, made by simmering boiled pork bones and shallots over a low heat for hours, is laced with ingredients like noodles, bok choy, sprouts, spring onions and slices of cooked red pork meat. It is flavored with fish sauce and chili sauce. This is the perfect comfort food to feast on when in Thailand.
8. Pad Thai
This is the default Thai dish in most restaurants serving Thai cuisine around the world, but of course they do not beat the original Thai version! This dish can be made with two types of noodles: the wide variety and the thin one. The noodles are dropped in a searing wok along with fistful of thinly sliced vegetables, bean sprouts, meat, seafood and egg. Accompanying condiments such as ground peanut powder, chilli powder, sugar and fish sauce add a new dimension to the dish.
9. Som Tum or Green Papaya Salad
This spicy salad will instantly take your taste buds on a rollercoaster ride as it offers a whirlpool of flavors. Different regions in Thailand will offer different variations of this salad but some of the common ingredients used are dry shrimp, salted crab, peanuts, green beans, cherry tomatoes, chilies, garlic and of course shredded raw papaya!
10. Joke or Rice Porridge
This is yet another classic Thai breakfast dish. Rice and pork broth are the primary ingredients of this delicious congee or porridge. This simple yet wholesome dish is often garnished with spring onions, ginger, an egg in the middle and a sprinkling of pepper.
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