When we talk about global culture, food is an integral part of it among other aspects. Food forms an important part of culture and tradition for a lot of countries, especially Asian countries. However, like everything else when food travels from one place to another, the flavors are adjusted according to the appeal of that country. Recently, Thai food has become a fast-growing and popular cuisine that is loved globally. Food is an extremely important part of the culture of Thailand, and you cannot explore Thailand without understanding its beautiful connection with the flavors. But, how do you know what is the best Thai food to eat? How do you recognize which food is a must have when trying to explore this vast food culture? Here is a quick guide to help you with it!

Before getting into the best Thai varieties, let’s understand what is Thai food? Thailand has a diverse culture, which varies from north to south Thailand. However, there are some common things to look out for when exploring Thai food. First of all, chilies! If it is Thai food, it is hot, so don’t shy away from chilies when exploring Thai cuisine. However, they are not always hot either. The bigger chilies commonly found in Thai cuisine are just like any other vegetable, and filled with vitamin C. Watch out for the smaller chilies that are termed as the hottest!

The best Thai foods come with a lot of condiments to help adjust your dish, however you please. Another important part of the Thai food culture is the soups. It is a part of the main meal, and sometimes can be so filling that people order rice a side with it. Soups will generally contain sticks and leaves, which you are not supposed to usually eat. The two main soups found in Thailand are:

1)   Tom Ka: which is a highly fragrant, coconut soup. Yes, you heard that right! The main ingredients in this are galangal and lemongrass. Sometimes Kaffir lime leaves and basil are added for flavor. What prominently may feature in this are Asian mushrooms.

2)   Tom Tum: is a hot soup, with chilies and normally does not contain any coconut in it. Most times the stock of the soup is clear.

Next, Thailand has its famous Noodle dishes. These include Pad Siew, which is slippery rice noodles which are fried with soy sauce and contain a spectrum of other vegetables and meats. And then there is the Pad Thai, which is one of most common Thai dishes for people to try. A good Pad Thai has thin rice noodles, which are stir fried with eggs and small pieces of tofu. They come flavored with tamarind, fish sauce, dried shrimp, garlic, chili and sugar. It is often served with lime and peanuts. You can order it alongside meat, tofu or prawns.

Thailand has its curries, which form an extremely significant part of their food culture. They are usually cooked in coconut milk, which is made from the flesh of coconut. They are wonderful aromatics that are used in these dishes and come with a choice of protein to choose from. Common curries in Thailand are:

a)   Green Curry: which is green because of the green chili content in it. It usually has fresh coriander, basil and kaffir lime leaf to enhance the taste (and the greenness).

b)   Red Curry: whose significant feature is the dried red chilies that its paste is made from.

c)   Yellow Curry:  Which is richer and creamier than both the other two, because it has a much higher coconut cream content in it. The yellow comes from using turmeric, which is a very Indian influenced flavoring.

d)   The Massaman Curry: which is particular to the Muslims and is filled with potatoes, sugar and lots of peanuts!

e)   Penang Curry: which a richer and sweeter version of the Red Curry

Along with this, a variety of Thai cuisine comes fried. However, they are not fried conventionally. They are usually fried in sauces which include soy, garlic and sugar. They are not very greasy, since they are meant as filler food while waiting for the main meals to come around.

Food becomes an important part of Thai culture, and there’s a lot to explore within it. If one does it right, then the potentials of exploring Thai food have a wide range of discovery.

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Thai food has bountiful abundance and such diversity and soul to its credit. Every meal or bowl of food is extremely well balanced and is scintillating to the taste buds and has a lot to explore. It ticks all the boxes of being salty, sweet, spicy, sour and umami and it also happens to fulfil all textural diversity. Crunchy, soupy, has veggies, meat, and is soft, crispy all in one plate. The exterior world thinks that green and red Thai curry is all that Thai food is about, however there are many Thai dishes for you to explore.Here are few best Thai dishes that you should consider ordering the next time you want some Thai food.

Khao Soi

This is goodness in a bowl, noodles in a very well-balanced coconut broth, along with other elements on the place like pickled relish, zing of lime, some meat, crispy shallots and much more.

Som Tam

This delectable wonder is essentially a green papaya salad along with other elements like peanuts, dried shrimp, tamarind, spicy chili, and fish sauce all brought together in the mortar and pestle. It is worth a try and is the essence of Thai food, balance of flavors and explosion of flavors at the same time.

Laab

A meaty salad, that either uses lamb chicken pork with a spicy dressing and mint to refresh the palate is a must next time you want some Thai food.

Tom Ka Ghai

This is a rich coconut milk chicken soup for the soul. It is rich, sweet and refreshing with flavors like lemongrass and ginger singing in the background.

Pad Pak Moong

This is the best Thai dish for veggie lovers and the health conscious individuals out there. Water spinach stir fried, with fermented black bean , garlic and spices will leave you wanting for more.

Tom Yum Goong

This is another bold soup bowl that Thai cuisine offers. A spicy shrimp soup with galangal, kaffir lime, lemongrass, shallots all working together harmoniously. Usually enjoyed on its own or with a nice bowl of coconut rice.

Tod Mun Pla with Nam Jim

The most common appetizer that features on a table filled with Thai food is this. This moreish delicacy is made from fish paste, bean paste, zingy lime inside, spices and flavored with curry paste. It is usually served with a mouthwatering Nam Jim which is essentially a dip that contains soy sauce, fish sauce, chilies, cucumbers, shallots and much more. It is delectable and so well balanced!

Kai Jeow

The Thai omelet like none other, crispy on the outside fluffy cloud like interior is heaven on a plate. This is usually served on a bed of rice either and a side of stir-fried vegetables or meat in chili sauce. The omelet itself is filled with a fermented sour sausage or a garlicky spicy pork. This dish is a part of every Thai kid’s childhood, devour this lip-smacking goodness.

Pad Thai

This is yet another popular tourist favorite, that is absolutely beaming of flavor. It is a fried noodle dish with the most amazing finger-licking sauce that goes into its making. It usually has chicken or pork added to it, but the vegetarian version is also popular. Served with some crunchy peanuts on top this is found in almost every street of Thailand and is a must.

Ruam Mit

To satiate your sweet tooth cravings, is this wonderful dessert that is essentially a cold dessert soup. An amazingly rich coconut broth harbors sliced jackfruit, Pandan leaves and coconut jelly, crisp water chestnuts, toddy palm seeds served over a bed of ice. The perfect refresher especially during hot summers.

Khao Niew Mamuang

The classic sticky rice with some mango is a favorite across the globe and is a true resonation of Thai food is- comfort and soul food. Juicy luscious mangoes served with sticky rice and thick sweet condensed milk; this is paradise on a plate.

Kao Tum Mud

Koa Tum Mud is sticky rice with coconut milk encased in a dough all of which is steamed in a bamboo leaf. This is the earthiest and satisfying sweet goodness you will taste. Served usually with black beans, banana, and tamarind. A wonderful sweet and sour dessert that lingers and leaves you wanting for more. Thai food has soul and substance, these are some of the best Thai dishes you will ever taste. Enjoy its goodness and take in every bite with gratitude.

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There is no doubt that Thai Cuisine is considered as one of the best cuisines in the world, with a deep variety of flavors from spicy to sweet and sour, it is also oil-free making it healthy. The fresh ingredients are also an add on! Thai cuisine is not just popular in Asian countries, but they have exported their style of cooking worldwide. Although Northeastern Thai meals tend to be spicier than the Southeastern ones. In earlier times all Thai meals were stewed, baked, or grilled. But after the influence of other Asian cuisines have added new culinary methods. Traditionally, Thai meals are not served in different courses but all the delicacies are bought together to the table. In other words, you order noodles, soups, rice, and curries at once and enjoy the diverse flavors together.

Wondering what makes to our all-favorite list for Thai Cuisine –

For the love of Rice

Thai’s are the world’s largest exporter of rice, it is their staple food! From the sweet-smelling, long-grain Jasmine Rice and the steamed, white KhaoSuoy to the customary KhaoNiaw (sticky rice), the favored ingredient is at the heart of Thai cuisine. Famous Thailand’s Fried rice is more than just a simple medley of rice and meat with herbs.

Soups & Salads

If you haven’t had the hot and spicy Tom Yum Goong (Shrimp Soup) then you have missed out of the star dishes from the Thai Cuisine. The combination of fresh lemongrass, chili, galangal (a variant of ginger), lime leaves, shallots, lime juice, and fish sauce lends its cult status in the gastronomy world. Not to forget, the staple of the Thai eating experience, the Noodle Soup, or KuayTiew. Did you know that salads are considered among the spiciest Thai dishes? Som Tam (spicy green papaya salad)is considered the hottest, while Yam Nua (spicy beef salad) is in a league of its own!

The Authentic Curries

If you have had Thai food, you know the presence of coconut milk and fresh herbs. While Thai curries have made their mark around the world. The red curry is a blend of meat, red curry paste, coconut milk, and finely sliced lime leaves. While the famous Thai green curry brings together chicken, eggplants, bamboo shoots, coriander, basil, and a spoonful of green curry paste stirred into hot creamy coconut milk. Although Thailand’s most innovative curry has to be Kai Med Ma Muang (Chicken with cashew nuts). Don’t miss out on the authentic flavors of these curries while having Thai cuisine.

Something Sweet

Thai desserts are mostly an amalgamation of rice, coconut milk, and sugar. We all loved colorful rice cakes as kids, right? The most popular sweet, though, has to be KhaoNiaw – an interesting fusion of sticky rice and mango. That said, a bowl of pineapple, banana, watermelon, papaya, dragon fruit, or jackfruit can also work as a dessert.

These are all the things that we love about Thai cuisine! Whereas, if you want to relish all these delicacies then pay a visit to the Thai Phuket restaurant. They are one of the top restaurants selling the most authentic Thai food.

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