Thai cuisine: national characteristics, traditional recipes and interesting facts

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Thai cuisine is a combination of different tastes. For example, residents believe that the ideal dish should consist of a range of flavors - sweet, bitter, sour, spicy and s alty. Achieving a balance in this matter is considered important for every cook. It is for this reason that one dish can combine various products that are usually not mixed in our country, for example, hot peppers and tender coconut milk, sour sauce and sweet fruits.

Thai Cuisine Features

What are the features of the cuisine of this area? A combination of two national traditions. Much is taken from the national cuisine of China, and the rest is from Indian. By the way, coconut milk in Thai dishes came not so long ago. But it's perfect for smoothing out overly bright foods.

It is also worth noting that rice and noodles are an integral part of Thai cuisine. It is noteworthy that if main courses or soups can be cold or warm, then rice must be served hot so that steam comes from it. It is also worth noting that fruits are the main dessert of Thai cuisine, and cold water is a favorite drink.

A simple dessert from Thailand

To prepare this dishit takes only two ingredients, and the result is a drink that easily replaces gourmet desserts. You need to take bananas and milk. Moreover, the liquid should be three times more than the fruit. Bananas are peeled and put in the freezer. They can be stored this way for a very long time, so many people make stocks of frozen fruits in advance for this delicacy. Then combine chilled milk and bananas, whipping with a blender. Dessert is ready!

You can also use almost any combination of fruits, such as mango and pineapple, strawberries and papaya.

Kitchen staples

Rice and noodles have already been mentioned, but there are also other foods in the Thai diet. Many Thai national dishes contain meat ingredients, but due to their high cost, chicken and duck meat is often used as a substitute.

The same can be said about seafood. Since Thailand has access to the sea, it is not surprising that both soups and main courses often contain seafood, the cost of which is low. Vegetables and fruits in Thai cuisine also occupy a special place. The latter are often eaten fresh for dessert. Exotic fruits can often be tasted only here. They try to combine vegetables in soups, second courses, adding to rice and noodles.

It is also worth noting the abundance of sauces, spices and seasonings. Sauces can be found in a variety of ways, from frankly spicy to cloyingly sweet. They are consumed with all dishes.

How is food prepared in Thailand?

The main feature of Thai cuisine isthe shortest possible cooking time. Thais try to keep food fresh. Most often cooked over an open fire. Many now know wok pans, which allow you to quickly bring both vegetables and meat to readiness.

It is noteworthy that in rare cases, cooks spend more than five minutes on frying vegetables. The maximum cooking time is about twenty minutes. Also interesting is the fact that it is difficult to find two dishes that are the same according to the recipe, because every chef in Thailand tries to bring something different to the recipe.

It's also worth noting that not everyone eats with chopsticks. Traditionally, the people of Thailand have been closer to Indian cuisine, where they prefer to eat with their hands. Now many use European devices. In establishments, you can often see both chopsticks and forks.

Also, there used to be a custom that there is always a need in the company, and the more people at the table, the better. Now this custom is gradually forgotten, but still many families gather at the same table to have lunch.

If you miss Russian cuisine

Is it possible to cook something from Russian cuisine in Thailand? Interestingly, yes. Even traditional borscht can be prepared from local ingredients. For example, beets are sold in many supermarkets boiled, whole, or sliced.

But what will be a problem is with certain types of cereals. We are talking about buckwheat and semolina. And if the first can still be found in the form of green buckwheat, then semolinacan't be bought anywhere. Also in Thailand there is no kefir and cottage cheese in the usual sense. However, they can be prepared by fermenting sour cream and milk. Delicious bread is also not included in the national cuisine of Thailand. Something remotely resembling it can be found in supermarkets, but at a decent price.

Dishes of Phuket. Definitely worth a try

As you know, some chefs are actively making changes to traditional recipes. So, for a number of dishes you should go to Phuket. Thai cuisine here has a number of nuances. What exactly is worth trying here?

Cat there. This delicious papaya salad has long been considered one of the most famous dishes in Thai cuisine. What to try first? Of course it is! There is no basic recipe for the dish, as everyone cooks it differently, experimenting with sauces and spices. But the base remains green papaya, heated to a certain temperature. Also, this type of salad is accompanied by chicken meat and rice.

Pad Thai is another famous dish from Thailand. It includes noodles, tofu cheese, onions and sprouted beans. Decorate this dish with your choice of finely chopped peanuts, fish-based sauce, granulated sugar or chili pepper.

Children's dishes. What to choose?

Spicy food is not suitable for children, which is why many people are afraid to go to Thailand with children, just afraid that they will have nothing to eat. But it's not. It should be noted right away that many establishments, especially in tourist places, offer not only national dishes, but also European ones. And manycafe chefs agree to modify a dish on request, such as removing chili peppers or hot sauce.

It is worth noting right away that you need to eat with children only in trusted establishments or on the food courts of supermarkets, avoiding street stalls. However, for children and among national dishes, you can find a lot of interesting things.

For example, you should try the Khao Tom soup. This is a rice soup with a delicate broth and pieces of chicken or fish. It is not spicy, as they do not put spicy chili paste in it. You should also choose vegetable soups. By the way, many vegetables in Thailand are prepared in a special way, so in the end they look appetizing, not at all like the usual options. Therefore, children gobble up vegetable side dishes, delicious rice and fruit desserts on both cheeks.

Delicious sauce recipe from Thailand

Not always and not everyone has the opportunity to visit Thailand, but everyone can try the dishes of this interesting cuisine. You can even cook something yourself, in your own kitchen. To prepare hot sauce, you need to take the following products:

• three chili peppers;
• three cloves of garlic;
• one hundred ml of water;
• one hundred and twenty grams of granulated sugar;
• 60ml rice vinegar;
• a tablespoon of starch.

The indicated amount of products yields about two hundred grams of finished sauce.

Garlic is peeled and cut as finely as possible. Washed pepper is passed through a meat grinder. If you remove the seeds, then the sharpness will be less, but if you use pepper with them, thenmore. Combine the two prepared ingredients in a saucepan, pour in granulated sugar. Add rice vinegar. Its quantity can be increased, then the sauce will turn out more spicy. Pour in almost all the water, leaving about two tablespoons.

Cook the sauce over medium heat for about twenty minutes. Vegetables should become soft, and the sauce itself is slightly reduced. Mix starch and remaining water in a separate bowl. Carefully pour into the sauce and heat it until transparent. The finished dish is stored in a glass container with a tightly closed lid. It keeps for about a week in the refrigerator. Pairs well with seafood and poultry.

Easy Thai soup

Such a gentle and simple dish anyone can cook. It doesn't take much time to cook. You need to take the following ingredients:

• liter of broth;
• half a kilo of chicken meat;
• two cloves of garlic;
• a piece of ginger about three centimeters;
• a bunch of green onions;
• any other greens;
• lemon juice - to taste;
• 200 grams of rice noodles (you can increase the amount, then the soup will be thicker);
• fish sauce to taste.

Additionally, you can season the soup with soy sauce and chili.

Chicken boiled meat cut into cubes. Garlic tinder on a fine grater. Ginger is cut into thin slices. The noodles are prepared according to the instructions on the package. All greens are finely chopped. You can use parsley, dill or cilantro.

Chicken broth is poured into a saucepan andsent to the stove. Add garlic and ginger slices. When everything boils, put chicken meat, cook for five minutes, add lemon juice and fish sauce. Remove the dish from the heat and add fresh herbs. Noodles are placed in a deep plate, poured with broth, greens are added on top. Pieces of ginger are removed, as it is only needed for flavor.

Thai cuisine is a special kind of cooking. Here are the best recipes from India and China.

It is in Thailand that you can meet the intersection of two cultures. Dishes here reflect the mood of the chef. They are fragrant and delicious.