Thailand is such a fantastic destination for so many, as it’s so diverse. It has gorgeous golden beaches, bustling cities, beautiful culture, amazing jungle, wildlife… and my favourite food in the world! Thailand is the home to famous dishes such as; Green Thai Curry, Pad Thai, Massaman curry and spicy soups such as Tom Yum. Lucky for me, my 10 day trip to Thailand meant that I had plenty of opportunity to sample the very best Thai cuisine and it’s definitely still my favourite.
Thai food is all about using fresh herbs & spices such as coriander, galangal, ginger, turmeric, cloves, chillies, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, Thai basil, shallots and garlic, which are often ground down into a paste, using a pestle and mortar. These flavoursome pastes provide the perfect base for dishes such as curries & soups.
Thai food is traditionally enjoyed family-style. Therefore, most menus would have some sort of selection platter as an appetizer – these are great as you can try one of everything! Most common elements would include; chicken satay (with the best peanut sauce…ever!), fish cakes, deep fried spring rolls & prawns. For a lighter option, you could go for delicious fresh spring rolls, served in rice paper with herbs, beansprouts, & leaves, served with a sweet chili dipping sauce. Alternatively I can highly recommend Thai soups as a starter, my favourites are Tom Yum and Tom Kah Gai.
The main courses are what it’s all about! Enjoy these family-style too and you will get to enjoy a taste of each. For a group, I would definitely recommend ordering a curry (or two!), a noodle dish, some stir fried vegetables in garlic and oyster sauce, and something like a Phad Kra Pao – a spicy Thai basil dish, along with a portion of rice per person. The Thai Massaman curry is usually quite a mild option, served with beef, potatoes and a good amount of peanuts. The classic Green Thai Curry is a bit more fragrant & spicy, with a variety of vegetables such as tiny aubergine peas and a coconut milk base – totally delicious!
Get in touch today to start planning your food adventure to Thailand…
