Thai cuisine is celebrated all over the world because of how well they combine sweet, sour, savory, and spicy flavors in many of their dishes. Their culinary creations are loved by many, which is why one can find Thai restaurants not just in Thailand but in many other countries as well. But of course, nothing beats feasting on authentic Thai food in Thailand itself. So, if you’re visiting the island or staying in one of our Phuket villas where your very own private chef can dish out these flavorful dishes, we highly recommend taking on an exciting gastronomic journey by trying these Thai favorites.
1. Tom Yum
Tom Yum is a hot and sour soup dish, usually cooked with shrimp. The dish is garnished with fragrant and zesty ingredients such as kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, and crushed red peppers. Its name is derived from the Thai words tom, which refers to the boiling process, and yam, which translates to ‘mixed.’
2. Pad Thai
Pad Thai is one of the most popular Thai specialties and is arguably the national dish of Thailand. It is a traditional rice noodle dish stir-fried with shrimp and chicken, peanuts, bean sprouts, and many other fresh vegetables, herbs, and spices. The dish is relatively easy to make but is packed with a delightful combination of flavors and textures.
3. Kuay Tiew
Kuay Tiew is a classic Thai noodle dish with pork meatballs and a flavorful broth. This dish is also commonly referred to as boat noodles because it was traditionally sold by boat vendors along the canals and rivers of Bangkok. Preparing this dish requires a long list of ingredients which is why it is usually bought than made at home.
4. Som Tam
Som tam is a spicy salad made with shredded green papaya, prawns, nuts, long beans, basil, lime, and fish sauce. It is a highly popular healthy dish that presents an interesting combination of sour, chili, sweet, and salty. Traditionally, Som Tam is prepared by pounding all its ingredients together in a mortar and pestle to help bring out all its flavors.
5. Gai Pad Med Ma Muang
Gai Pad Med Ma Muang is a stir-fry dish that uses chicken and cashew nuts as its main ingredients, mixed with a variety of vegetables like onions, bell peppers, and water chestnuts. This dish is a great way of sampling the locally grown cashew nuts of Phuket which are considered to be one of the finest cashew nuts produced in the world.
6. Geng Kheaw Wan Gai
Geng Kheaw Wan Gai is simply a dish made with chicken in green curry. Its ingredients include coconut milk, bamboo shoots, lemongrass, cilantro, and basil. Its distinct green color is brought about by the green chilis used in making the curry sauce, although some restaurants also use green curry paste. People love this dish because of its rich savory flavor with a hint of sweetness.
7. Tom Kha Gai
Tom Kha Gai is another highly popular Thai soup dish that is loved by many. Its soup is coconut milk-based, which gives it a richer texture and sweeter taste compared to the spicy broth of tom yum. This dish usually uses chicken for its meat but can also sometimes contain shrimp. Just like most Thai soup specialties, Tom Kha Gai is best enjoyed with rice.
8. Kao Pad
Khao Pad is Thailand’s version of fried rice usually prepared with garlic, onions, scrambled egg, tomatoes, cilantro, and protein such as chicken or shrimp. It is in many ways similar to Chinese-style fried rice, but it has that distinct combination of strong flavors that Thai cuisine is known and loved for. It is often served with chili on the side so you can spice it up according to taste.
9. Massaman Curry
Massaman Curry presents a delicious fusion of Thai and Indian curries. It has a rich, red curry that is relatively mild and sweet. Its curry is made with ingredients such as cardamom, cinnamon, star anise, nutmeg, and more, but its distinctive ingredient would be the inclusion of peanuts in its recipe. Massaman Curry is usually cooked with chicken, carrots, onions, and potatoes.
10. Khao Man Gai
Khao Man Gai is Thailand’s take on the beloved Hainanese chicken rice of Singapore. Its chicken is slowly cooked through boiling until the desired tenderness of its meat is achieved. The water used in the boiling process is then used to cook the rice to give it more flavor. This meal is usually served with an accompanying sweet and spicy sauce.
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Featured image: Serious Eats
