6 Thai dishes you have to try

As you may have already appreciated on our blog, we are very much in favor of knowing new cultures through their gastronomy. Today we are going to get to know Thailand through six of its most popular dishes.

Thai gastronomy is everything a festival for the senses. Its vivid colors, the mixtures of flavors, the intense aromas… Everything comes together in the streets of the country to offer passers-by a 360º experience of its culture.

If there is something that characterizes Thai gastronomy more than anything else, it is its constant search for balance between the five flavors: salty, sweet, spicy, bitter and sour. This reveals all the influences that Thai culture has received throughout its history: Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist …

Salty dishes that will take your breath away

Now that we know a bit about what Thai food is going to be like, it’s time to unveil some of its most popular dishes so that if you are traveling there this summer, you know exactly what to expect.

Let’s start with the best known of all, a dish that is becoming easier to find in the West: the pad Thai. This dish is very simple, but spectacularly delicious. These are rice noodles sautéed with chicken, shrimp or tofu, depending on your tastes, and seasoned with fish sauce, soy, egg, lime, chili and sugar. It is one of the star delicacies of the country and you can try it either in restaurants or in street markets.

If you want to continue trying other dishes that are not excessively spicy, we recommend the Tom Kha Kai o Tom Kha Gai, a chicken and coconut milk soup that has mild harmonic aromas and flavors, suitable for all audiences. This spoon dish consists of chicken, coconut milk, galangal (a ginger-like spice), lime leaves, lemongrass, coriander, mushrooms, fish sauce, and lime juice. As you can see, everything is very balanced and perfect for winter days.

If you prefer a more refreshing and spicy dish, the I’m Tum or I’m There You’re going to love it. It is the queen of Thai salads, and it is prepared based on green papaya cut in julienne. Many others are added to this fruit, as well as other vegetables, and it is seasoned with lime and chili, thus obtaining a magnificent contrast between acid and spicy.

Sweet dishes and a traditional Thai drink

Thai food is not only designed for lovers of salty and spicy, it would be missing more. With a culture as rich as that of Thailand, the sweet dishes are the most original, and if you don’t believe it, pay attention because you are going to hallucinate!

First of all, we must talk about rice with mango, the Longing for Mamuang. This dessert is a distant relative of our beloved rice pudding. It is a sticky rice ball, the stiky rice, as the English say, with mango and coconut milk. It is a typical summer dessert, since it is when the mango is at its optimum point of ripeness.

Another of our favorite Thai sweets is Color Make Chi, ideal for sweet lovers. It is made from banana cooked in coconut milk and is served as if it were a soup. It can be taken either hot or cold.

Finally, we cannot forget the drinks, we are not going to dehydrate or choke on food. For that, we recommend that you try the Cha Yen or Thai iced tea. The tea is mixed with milk (cow or coconut) and sweetened with sugar or sweeteners, resulting in a creamy and refreshing drink.

Do you dare to try any of these dishes? If you have already eaten one or you think it might be interesting to meet someone else, do not hesitate to tell us.