For tourists, when Thai food is mentioned, images of the delicious Pad Thai comes to mind. Or perhaps the chilis on the famous Papaya Salad. Mouth-watering! That’s what’s in mind at an instant!
Gladly, the authentic Thai cuisine is not just limited to those. In fact, it is interesting to discover the background of Thai cuisine that the Northern Thailand and the Southern varies a bit in their specialties. The Northern Thailand shares cuisine or at least influenced, by its neighboring countries Laos and Burma; also Vietnam on the other side. The Southern Thailand region shares its cuisine with the neighboring northern Malaysia, which is why Massaman curries is mostly available in this part of Thailand. Chicken dishes is also popular.
More to that, Thai cuisine pays a lot of attention to details, the color, the smell, the presentation and its garnishing while not compromising its health value. Often, meals and dishes are served with vegetables, always with the fresh green leafy ones to match the protein in the meat. Dishes can most of the time consist of eggs or tofu.
What is great about Thai cuisine is the vast options for vegetarian and vegans alike. There are huge selections of restaurants serving vegan-friendly dishes, therefore easy for those who are looking for one. Street vendors can never be emptied with vegan food too. A variety of dishes to choose from so vegans wouldn’t surely get deprived of their preference when in Thailand.
A complete set of full meal would normally consist of carbo load, which could be noodles (choose your like, from thin, wide, yellow or white, string or angel-hair ones) or rice and again sticky rice, plain rice or fried rice. Soup is also popular as well, chicken broth topped with chives or spring onions is served with your main meal.
Authentic Thai cuisine is creative, rich, full of flavor, healthy, fresh and yes, spicy! Delectable dishes is always endless in choices. Menus in restaurants are most-often loaded with wide selections. Rice is always an accompaniment in any dish.
The desserts mostly are made of starch or tapioca, drizzled with condensed milk or sometimes sweetened coconut milk. Spoilt with crepes and pancakes, your sweet tooth is surely happy when in Thailand! Luscious coconut cakes, the popular mango-sticky rice of course, or perhaps pineapple pies and even coconut ice cream is mostly-available.
Jellies on shaved-ice with fruit on it, is popular too. Great to gush down your spicy lunch, these shaved-ice topped with beans and sweetened fruit of choice, mostly the exotic ones
Whether it’s from a shabby streetfood shack for takeaway or a chic Thai restaurant for a nice dinner, noone will get hungry when in Thailand!