Thai Regional Food and Must-Try Recipes

The characteristic flavors of Thai dishes come from the emphasis Thai cuisine puts on light dishes seasoned with a lot of aromatic spices. Thai cuisine tries to balance different flavors, temperatures, textures, and cooking methods.

Many dishes combine the "four flavors" – sweet, sour, salty and spicy. The sweetness usually comes from palm sugar, and the sourness from lime, mango, and other fruit. Thai dishes use a lot of fish sauce, which adds a salty flavor; and to spice up their dishes they use five different kinds of chilies.

A famous dish that combines all four flavors at once is green papaya salad: a fresh salad with papaya, fish sauce, palm sugar, and hot chili. Read our article below and find more about the must-try recipes.

Common ingredients of Thai Dishes

Thai cuisine uses many different ingredients. Sauces and pastes (mostly used as dips) are extremely common. Nan pla is the most common fish sauce; and nam phrik, a paste used as a dip with raw vegetables, is used throughout the country.

Vegetables like bean sprouts, cucumbers and eggplant, are eaten raw or used in soups or stir-fried dishes. Flowers are also used (especially the flower bud of the banana) as vegetables or as food coloring.

Herbs and spices, of course, are a must. Kaffir lime is used for many soups, along with galangal and lemongrass. The most common spice is chili, coming in five varieties: the smaller the chili, the hotter the flavor.

Finally, fruit is served mostly as dessert, or used in dishes like salads. Coconut is generally popular, and its juice or oil is commonly used in many dishes.

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Bangkok and Chiang Mai In Bangkok, our guide Ann and driver "Mr. Ot" (I don't know how to spell his name) were very friendly and professional. You simply can't underestimate the value of having an English speaking guide to show you around, and a driver with a comfortable, sizeable, air-conditioned van take you from place to place. Ann taught us so much about Thailand's history, food, and religion. Mr. Ot always opened our door with a smile, and had cool towels and ice-cold bottled water for us. More , Apr 2024

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Regional food differences in Thailand

When it comes to food, Thailand can be divided into 4 regions:

• Southern Thailand has very spicy food, using coconut and all its derivates (oil, water, cream, etc). One characteristic dish is massaman curry, made with roasted spice not commonly used for other Thai dishes.
• A typical dish of Central Thailand is kaeng khiao wan, "green curry", a coconut curry made with fresh green chilies, basil, and chicken meatballs. It is one of the spiciest curries in Thai cuisine.
• Northeast Thailand shares a lot of dishes with southern Laos and Cambodia. The food is simple and spicy, and we recommend trying phat mi khorat, a stir-fried dish with noodles, served with papaya salad.
• Northern Thailand uses a lot of freshwater fish and meat from domesticated animals. It is common to eat soup, broth, or steamed food. A typical northern dish (found also in Laos) is laap, a mea

Classic Must-Try Recipes from Thailand

A lot of cooking classes in Thailand share the same traditional dishes, the same dishes you can easily find in restaurants or from street vendors. Maybe you fell in love with one of them, and you want to cook it at home.

Here is a selection of six classic must-try recipes, often taught in a Thai Cooking Class. From the ubiquitous pad Thai, to one of the many kinds of Thai curry; from the delicious shrimp soup tom yum goong, to the rich papaya salad, you will surely find your favorite!

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Dining Etiquette

Knowing and respecting local etiquette is a good way to interact with locals and avoid misunderstandings. Read the following and learn how to honor your host during your trip in Thailand:

• Spoon in the right hand, fork in your left. You should use the fork to push the food onto the spoon. In a formal dinner, you should avoid eating the food directly from your fork.
• When you have done eating, place fork and spoon on your plate at the 6:30 position. This will tell the staff they can take the dirty plate away.
• Usually, Thai dishes are meant to be shared. The plates will be placed on the center of the table, so that everyone can help himself/herself.
• The host usually orders for the whole table, and you can tell him/her what you would like to eat (if the meal is not pre-arranged).
• It is a good habit to take only the food you are going to eat. It is impolite to have leftovers in one's plate or to take too much food, preventing others from trying it.
• A common rule in many countries is "elders and hosts first": before starting to eat, wait for your host (or the oldest person) to begin.

Explore Thai Flavor with Asia Highlights

Thai cuisine is full of distinctive flavors and is nutritionally balanced, making it one of the most interesting things to try when visiting Thailand. Our professional advisors will arrange a street food tour and select restaurants carefully, to help all our clients to explore the most authentic flavors of Thailand.