FAQs
The Essential Thai Sauces and Stocks
- Fish Sauce. Nam Bplah – น้ำปลา ...
- Oyster Sauce. Nam Man Hoi – น้ำมันหอย ...
- Soy Sauce. Sauce Tu-a Luang – ซอสถั่วเหลือง ...
- Coconut Milk. Nam Kra Ti – กะทิ ...
- Palm Sugar. Nam Tarn Pip – น้ำตาลปี๊ป ...
- Sugar. Nam Tarn – น้ำตาล ...
- Coriander (Cilantro) Pak Chii – ผักชี ...
- Thai Sweet Basil. Hoh Rapaa – โหรพา
It is imperative to note that there's no Thai food without these basic spices and flavors:
- Red and Green Chilies. If you love your food hot as I do, then Thai food certainly has got you covered. ...
- Cinnamon. Locally known as Ob Chuey, cinnamon is widely used to garnish meals and curries. ...
- Pepper. ...
- Cilantro. ...
- Cumin.
The four essential flavours of Thai cuisine
- SALTY: fish sauce, shrimp paste.
- SPICY: chillies, pepper.
- SOUR: lime, tamarind.
- SWEET: palm sugar, fruits.
- Every dish in Thai cuisine incorporates at least two of these – sometimes all four. One flavour may be dominant, but the others will be there too, like notes in a chord.
If you want authentic Thai food, the secret is a balance of five flavor profiles. These are: salty, sweet, spicy, sour, and creamy.
What are the 5 Thai tastes? ›
Let's explore now the five main flavors you can find in an authentic thai restaurant.
- Sweet – A Touch of Delight. Thai cuisine's sweetness is distinctively different from desserts or sugary treats. ...
- Sour – A Tangy Twist. ...
- Salty – A Savory Foundation. ...
- Bitter – An Earthy Undertone. ...
- Spicy – The Fiery Heat.
Thai cooks commonly use coconut oil, palm oil, peanut oil, or soybean oil; traditionally, lard was also used in Thai cooking. These types of oil are low-smoke, as is desirable for frying or grilling, and they do not break down quickly. Peanut oil is often used for stir-frying and deep-frying.
What are the 7 Thai spices? ›
Ingredients
- 1 ½ teaspoons Cumin.
- 3 teaspoons Sea Salt.
- 3 tablespoons Lemon Pepper.
- 3 teaspoons Chili Powder.
- 4 ½ teaspoons Garlic Powder.
- 4 ½ teaspoons Ginger, Ground.
- 1 ½ teaspoons Mustard Seed, Ground.
- 1 ½ teaspoons Onion Powder.
Meats used in Thai cuisine are usually pork and chicken, and also duck, beef, and water buffalo. Goat, lamb, and mutton are rarely eaten except by Muslim Thais in Southern Thailand.
Does Thai food use turmeric? ›
Turmeric is one of the most wonderful and flavorful Thai food spices that you'll find in Thai curries and chicken dishes. It can be used raw or dried out in powder form. You'll find the flavors of turmeric in signature Thai dishes such as Wok-Fried Seafood, Musssamun and Yellow Curry.
Does Thai food use cumin? ›
In Thai cuisine, cumin seeds are roasted, pounded, and then mixed with curry paste to enhance the flavor. They are an essential part of red, green, and yellow curry.
In Thai cuisine, the lead main element is called “Rot Chad Naam”, while the secondary flavors or undertones are referred to as “Rot Chad Rong”. These are the most commonly used Thai spices: Sweet: Fruits, palm sugar, coconuts. Spicy: Long pepper, chili (green, red, dried, or fresh), and black or white peppercorns.
What are the main ingredients of Thai cuisine? ›
Each ingredient has its own unique flavor and texture that helps give traditional Thai dishes their distinctive taste. So get ready to explore the world of Thai cooking! Rice noodles, coconut milk & cream, herbs & spices, fish sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, chillies, palm sugar, tamarind paste, galangal & lime leaves.
What are the 5 elements of Thai cooking? ›
“In Thai cooking we try to make sure we have all five flavour notes in our meals – sweet, salty, spicy, sour and bitterness. As long as you include this core flavour profile you can cook Thai food at home,” says Xuto.
What does Thai food mainly consist of? ›
Thai meals typically consist of rice (khao in Thai) with many complementary dishes shared by all. The dishes are all served at the same time, including the soups, and it is also customary to provide more dishes than there are guests at a table.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/directly-above-shot-of-ingredients-in-plate-on-table-924593978-5b216d0d8023b900365720ec.jpg "A Novice's Guide to Essential Thai Herbs and Spices (1)")
