Characteristic features of Thai cuisine
The relationship between geography and cooking
It is easy to see echoes of Cambodian, Laotian, Malaysian, Chinese and Indian national cuisines in Thai cuisine. Of course, the locals have made their own additions: they add herbs, unlike the Indians, who love spices.
The regions of Thailand leave their own unique mark on national dishes.
- In particular, the south of the country has felt the influence of China and Malaysia.
- The eastern regions have much in common with the cuisine of Laos.
- The north of Thailand is the homeland of meat eaters, lovers of poultry and pork.
- The center of the state has gradually borrowed all the features of the outskirts.
Ingredients and Flavors: The Canvas of National Cuisine
Most Thai dishes are a bizarre combination of a variety of ingredients that cannot coexist at first glance. All sorts of patterns are broken by the following features:
- Thai cuisine has no restrictions on the use of meat, fish, milk and other ingredients. Animal products are used as much as fruits and vegetables.
- The serving of local cuisine is based on a general principle: most of the ingredients are placed on a bed of greens and salad.
- Rice is the basis of many Thai dishes. More than a dozen types of rice are used here, including: white, black, brown, red, aromatic, gluten rice.
- A wide variety of noodles are also a popular base for cooking. They are made from wheat, rice, beans, chicken eggs.
- The traditional flavors of Thai cuisine are sour, sweet and spicy. Here, literally, they cannot live without curry.
Popular dishes of Thailand
When traveling in Thailand, tourists most often leave positive reviews about the following dishes:
- Tom yum kung is a soup with a broth made from coconut milk. Lime leaves, tomatoes, and shrimp are added to tom yum kung. The dish is very popular in the world, so it has several fan clubs.
- Som tam is a salad that mixes hot garlic and pepper, spicy tomatoes, and sweet cane. The dish is based on neutral-tasting nuts and beans.
- Tom kha kai is a spicy soup with chicken based on coconut milk.
- Pad thai is rice noodles that are usually baked.
- Khao na phet is rice and roast duck in broth.
- Mee krob is fried noodles in sweet and sour sauce.
- Fat thai is rice noodles with pieces of chicken eggs and shrimp, served in a hot sauce.
- Kai ji moo sap is rice topped with a mixture of fish and chicken sauces and meat gravy.
- Po pya sod – buns filled with omelette, salad or sausage.
- Yam nya – grilled meat served with cucumber, onion, pepper. Drizzled with lime juice.
