A kingdom in South East Asia,
Thailand is home to 68,863,514 people. Its illustrious capital is Bangkok,
which is one of the most bustling cities in the world. Described as a tiger
economy, Thailand has a GDP valued at $542.200 billion, this places it as the
world’s 25th most powerful economy. Moreover, the country’s GDP per
capita value stands at $7,273.56. Thus, Thailand naturally has a high standard
of living-which is reflected by their human development index of 0.755.
In
turn, Thailand’s rate of unemployment is extremely low- at only 0.9%. Every
year Thailand attracts droves of tourists and one of the country’s biggest
attractions is its local cuisine. Wherever you are, as a newcomer to a country,
the first thing one looks for is food. Fortunately, if you are a foreigner in
Thailand, one never has to look far as food is abundant.
The cuisine of Thailand has long
been lauded as one of the best in the world. With fresh flavors and fresher
ingredients, Thailand’s local food is a delicacy.
Before moving to recommendations
for dishes, perhaps it would be best to look at what makes Thai food special.
Unlike western cuisines, Thai food does not have a focus on rich and oily
ingredients. Instead, Thai cooking has a focus on freshness. Where dried herbs
and spices are rarely used as fresh ones are much preferred. Thai food also
focuses on other aspects of eating, such as smell and presentation. This is
because food experts in Thailand believe eating should be an experience. One
that is not simply limited to taste, alone. In general, Thai food can be said
to have four main categories:
·
Tom- translates to foods that are boiled
·
Yam- translates to spicy salads
·
Tam- translates to foods that are pounded
·
Gaeng- translates to curries
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Thailand has five main regions.
As such, Thai food can be loosely separated into five varieties:
·
Bangkok
·
Northern Thailand
·
Southern Thailand
·
Northeastern Thailand
·
Central Thailand
Recurring ingredients in local
Thai cuisine are the following:
·
Rice- a staple in many Asian countries, rice
accompanies all Thai dishes
·
Lime- the juice of this tart citrus fruit is
used to enhance flavors
·
Chili- Sliced chilies are often an addition to
Thai dishes both for flavor and for presentation
·
Spices- fresh spices enhance Thai dishes to give
them their signature taste
· Coconut (and coconut milk)- instead of being
cooked in oil, Thai food is often cooked in coconut milk.
Read Also: How To Start A Business In Thailand?
Top local Thai food everyone
must try at least once:
Tom Yam Goong
(Spicy shrimp soup)
When one says Thai food, often an
image of a bowl of steaming Tom Yam Goong comes to mind. Made by combining
several Thai spices with chili, lime and of course, shrimp, Tom Yam Goong is a
favorite. This dish is most often served as a main meal alongside a serving of
plain, steamed white rice.
Laap
(Minced meat seasoned with
spices)
Thought to have originated from
northeastern Thailand, Laap is a simple dish, yet, it is packed with flavor.
This is because the minced meat is seasoned with a variety of fresh herbs and
sauces. Moreover, lime juice and other ingredients are added. Laap is rarely
eaten on its own and often enjoyed with a side of sticky rice.
Som tum
(Spicy green papaya salad)
When one thinks of papayas, one
rarely thinks of it as spicy. However, in Thailand, green papayas are sliced
thinly and tossed in sauces with other vegetables, finally, all ingredients are
mashed to release their flavors. Thus, this aromatic dish is created. Some may
consider the dish too spicy, while others love it, regardless, it must be tried
in order to form an opinion.
Tom kha kai
(chicken in coconut soup)
If one is sick of all the spicy
options, then this may be the solution. This is a mild tasting soup made by
cooking chicken in coconut milk, moreover, this dish is infused with lime as
well as the tart flavor of lemon grass. Commonly regarded as a comfort food,
this is eaten throughout the year in Thailand.
Pad Thai
(Stir fried noodles)
Possibly Thailand’s most globally
popular dish, Pad Thai is a stir-fried noodle dish. For this dish, noodles are
tossed with beansprouts, eggs and onions and stir fried with spices, the dish
is then garnished with a meat of choice. Moreover, to truly bring out the flavor,
a wedge of fresh lime is squeezed over it.
Gaeng keow wan kai
(Thai green chicken curry)
Colloquially called Thai green
curry, this is also a popular choice. Getting its mild green color from ground
green chilies, this curry accompanies rice. While it is most popularly made
with chicken, variations with beef and pork are available. Combined with the
aroma of coconut milk and the kick of green chilies, this dish is a must have.
As a main dish, it is often eaten with rice.
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