Thai cuisine is renowned for its spicy flavors, combining sweet, sour, salty, and seafood elements characterized with a focus on balancing the different flavors to create dishes that are complex. Here are some of the most beloved foods of Thailand:
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Pad Thai | Photo: Adobe Stock
Pad Thai
A stir-fried noodle dish that is a hallmark of Thai street food. It includes rice noodles, eggs, tofu, tamarind pulp, fish sauce, dried shrimp, garlic, red chili pepper, and palm sugar, garnished with roasted peanuts, lime wedges, and coriander.
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Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup) | Photo: Adobe Stock
Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup)
A famous Thai soup known for its distinct hot and sour flavors, made with shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes, lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves.
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Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad) | Photo: Adobe Stock
Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad)
A spicy salad made from shredded unripe papaya, green beans, tomatoes, peanuts, dried shrimp, garlic, tamarind paste, fish sauce, lime juice, and chili pepper.
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Green Curry (Gaeng Keow Wan) | Photo: Adobe Stock
Green Curry (Gaeng Keow Wan)
Made from green curry paste, coconut milk, meat (chicken, beef, or pork), and various vegetables. It is aromatic and slightly sweet, often served with steamed rice.
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Massaman Curry | Photo: Adobe Stock
Massaman Curry
A rich, relatively mild Thai curry that reflects the influence of Persian cuisine. It contains coconut milk, potatoes, roasted peanuts, bay leaves, sugar, cinnamon, tamarind sauce, and meat, typically beef or chicken.
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Khao Pad | Photo: Adobe Stock
Khao Pad
A simple but flavorful dish made with rice, egg, onion, a few herbs, and a mix of meat or seafood. It's seasoned with soy sauce or fish sauce.
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Pad Kra Pao (Basil Stir-Fry) | Photo: Adobe Stock
Pad Kra Pao (Basil Stir-Fry)
A spicy dish made with minced pork or chicken, Thai basil, garlic, chili, and served over rice, often topped with a fried egg.
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Mango Sticky Rice (Khao Niew Mamuang) | Photo: Adobe Stock
Mango Sticky Rice (Khao Niew Mamuang)
A popular dessert, especially during the mango season. It's made with glutinous rice, ripe mangoes, and coconut milk.
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Tom Kha Kai (Chicken in Coconut Soup) | Photo: Adobe Stock
Tom Kha Kai (Chicken in Coconut Soup)
A milder alternative to Tom Yum, this soup combines coconut milk with chicken, galangal, lemongrass, and lime leaves for a rich, creamy texture.
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Satay | Photo: Adobe Stock
Satay
Skewered and grilled meat served with sauce, typically peanut sauce. It's a popular street food in Thailand, with variations including chicken, beef, and pork.