Top 5 Thai Dishes You Can’t Miss – Recipes Included

Thai food is renowned for its spiciness and medicinal properties. There isn’t much to ask for if the food is delicious as well as healthy. Undoubtedly it is one of the best gourmets in the world. So what makes Thai dishes so tasty? It is due to the balance of all the five flavors i.e spicy, sweet, sour, salty, and bitter.

The most widely used ingredient in Thai food is fish sauce. There are usually two types of servings, one that is served as a single dish and the second eaten with rice. Usually sticky and steamed rice makes a perfect combination to mouth-watering Thai cuisine.

If you are on one of the flights to BangkokAsia Highlights do not shy away from ordering some Thai food on the plane. It is always a good idea to get used to the distinctive taste before you try one of the best dishes in the world. Thai dishes are one of the many things you shouldn’t miss when you travel to Bangkok.

Top Thai Dishes

Following are the top 5 Thai dishes you can miss based on the popularity and authenticity of the delicacies.

1. Tom Yum Goong (Shrimp Soup)

It is a spicy shrimp soup and quite famous all over the world. The soup is made by fragrant herbs and spices giving it a one-of-a-kind spicy and sour taste. Tom Yam soup is served in two different styles; the thick spicy soup and the clear spicy soup. The thick spicy soup is made by adding coconut milk to make it thicker and give a milder taste. However, the clear spicy soup is much spicier and not as thick as the other. If one dish was to be named as a signature dish of Thailand, it would be Tom Yam.

Ingredients for two servings:

2. Pad Thai (Fried Noodles)

The history of Thai fried noodles dates back centuries ago. With a very balanced five flavor ingredients scheme it comes in two styles; the classic and the variation. It tastes yummy and can be easily customized by adding a set of seasonings.

Ingredients for two servings:

• 12 oz. rice noodles;
• 2 teaspoons butter;
• 5 oz. chicken breast halves (boneless, skinless, and cut into bite-sized pieces);
• 1 ½ tablespoon vegetable oil;
• 1 – 2 eggs;
• 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar;
• 2 teaspoons fish sauce;
• 1 tablespoon white sugar;
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper;
• 2/3 cup bean sprouts;
• 1 ½ tablespoon crushed peanuts;
• 1 chopped green onions;
• 1/2 lemon (cut into wedges).

Thai Dishes – Preparation:

1. In cold water, soak rice noodles and leave them for 30 to 50 minutes or until softening. Then drain them.
2. Heat butter in a large pan and saute chicken until browned. Then remove and leave it aside.
3. In a pan, heat the oil on medium-high heat, crack eggs into the pan, and cook them.
4. Stir the chicken and cook it for another 5 min.
5. Add the noodles, fish sauce, vinegar, sugar, pepper and stir while cooking.
6. Add the beans and stir for another 3 minutes.
7. Serve.

Thai Dishes original recipe.

3. Tom Kha Gai (Chicken Soup)

‘Gai’ in the Thai language means Chicken. Tom Kha Gai is a very delicious soup and deserves to be ranked at number 3 because of its distinctive taste. The special thing about this soup is that it is cooked in coconut milk and so as expected is quite thick and not very spicy. It is prepared from many natural herbs that make this soup even unique.

Ingredients for 6 serving:

• 2 stalks fresh lemongrass;
• 1 peeled 1″ piece ginger;
• 10 kaffir lime leaves;
• 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth;
• 1 ½ pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1″ pieces;
• 8 oz. shiitake, oyster, or stemmed, cut into bite-size pieces maitake mushrooms;
• 1 can coconut milk;
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce;
• 1 teaspoon sugar;
• Chili oil, cilantro leaves, and lime wedges.

Thai Dishes – Preparation:

1. Chop the ginger and lemongrass into 4 pieces with the backside of a knife.
2. In a large pot, add lemongrass, ginger, lime leaves, broth, and let them simmer.
3. While boiling, reduce the heat and leave it another 8-10 minutes.
4. Pour soup into another clean container.
5. Add the chicken and let it boil again.
6. Reduce the heat and add the mushrooms until softened, along with the chicken, for about 20-25 minutes.
7. Add the coconut milk, fish sauce, and sugar.
8. Serve the soup with chili oil, cilantro, and lime wedges.

Thai Dishes original Asia High Lights

4. Som Tam (Papaya Salad)

It is one of the spiciest Thai dishes you will ever come across. Som Tam is a spicy papaya salad that is known for its fierce spices.  The name ‘Som Tam’ in English means ‘Sour Pounded’. It is made by mixing different vegetables in a mortar and with a unique spicy dressing at the top.  If you love spices you just can’t miss this delicacy. Som Tam is often served with grilled chicken and rice.

Ingredients for 2 servings:

• 2 cups of shredded green papaya;
• 2 cloves of peeled garlic;
• 1-2 fresh birds eye chili;
• ½ piece palm sugar;
• 7 cherry tomatoes;
• 1 tbs of dried shrimps;
• 1-2 tbs Thai snake beans;
• 2 tbs of toasted peanuts;
• 1½ tbs of fish sauce;
• juice of ½ lime.

Thai Dishes – Preparation:

1. Crush the peanuts using mortar and pestle.
2. Melt the sugar in a small pot on medium heat, adding 2 tablespoons of water.
3. Cut the papaya into thin strips.
4. Chop the green beans into one-inch pieces. Throw the endings away.
5. Take the garlic and chilies, lightly bashing them with mortar and pestle.
6. Add the shrimps and continue bashing.
7. Add bashed peanuts and mix nicely.
8. Add the papaya and continue bashing.
9. Add the melted sugar, tomatoes, beans, lime juice, fish sauce, and stir with a spoon.
10. Serve in a large bowl and pour the bashed peanuts.

Thai Dishes original recipe.

5. Tom Yum Gai

As the name suggests it is another category of Tom Yum soup but cooked with chicken this time. Tom Yum Gai is a spicy chicken soup that will make you fall in love with it with your first sip. Simmered with Thai herbs as most of the Thai dishes are it is also seasoned with lemon, chilies, and fish sauce. It is very much liked by the foreigners who visit Bangkok.

Ingredients for four serving:

• 6 cups chicken stock;
• 1 fresh lemongrass stalk;
• 4 kaffir limes leave;
• 6-8 sliced shiitake mushrooms;
• 1-2 boneless chicken breasts or turkey;
• 1 stalk sliced celery;
• 3-4 cloves minced garlic;
• 1 thumb-size piece galangal or grated ginger;
• 1 chopped tomato;
• 1/2 to 1 can coconut milk;
• 1-2 fresh red or green chilies, finely sliced;
• optional: 1 sliced red bell pepper;
• 3 sliced spring (green) onions;
• 2 Tbsp. lime juice;
• 1 Tbsp. soy sauce;
• 2 Tbsp. fish sauce;
• 1/2 to 1 tsp. sugar;
•  a handful of fresh coriander and/or basil.

Thai Dishes – Preparation:

1. Place the chicken stock in a large pot and heat it at medium-high temperature.
2. Add lemongrass. If using fresh lemongrass, cut and put it into the pot to boil.
3. Add fresh chicken, kaffir lime leaves, mushrooms, celery, garlic, galangal (or ginger), and chili.
4. Put the soup back to boil on medium heat for 6-8 minutes, until chicken is cooked.
5. Add the tomatoes and peppers and boil for 2 more minutes.
6. Reduce the heat and add the coconut milk, fish sauce, soy sauce, lemon juice, and sugar. Simmer another 1-2 minutes, tasting the soup.
7. Pour soup into bowls.
8. Sprinkle with a little coriander, basil, and young green onions.
9. Add chili sauce of your choice and ENJOY!

Thai Dishes original recipe.

Although Thai food is known for its healthy properties there is a debate about whether it is really beneficial for health or not. Well, it varies from dish to dish but the herbs used in the food are quite healthful.

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Author Bio-

A dedicated travel writer Anas Ahmad who loves to transfer his wanderlust onto a page and also read other’s experiences about travel. A spicy food aficionado along with things sweet.  Lives on the personal motto of “bring it on!” and a particular lover of simplicity.