Ahan Thai is the correct name for Thailand International cuisine. Thai cuisine represents five regions in Thailand which are Bangkok, Central Thai, Northern Thai, Southern Thai and Isan (northeastern Thai).
Thai dishes mostly consist of aromatic and spicy ingredients. The charm, vibrant colours, fragrant smell, flavourful taste and nutritious ingredients are among the reasons that make Thai dishes so alluring.
There are four categories of Thai cuisine, TOM, which means boiled dishes, YAM, means spicy salad, TAM refers to pounded food and lastly GAENG, which is curry.
Thai cuisine consists of five elements in each meal, dip for raw vegetables, clear soup, curry, deep-fried, stir-fried and most important is Khao or rice. It is usually eaten with various kinds of dishes. They practice Khluk for dining where they mix different flavour and textures in one plate.
Evolution of Thai cuisine
Most of the Thai cuisine is originally Chinese dishes that were introduced by the Hokkien settlers around the 15th century, such as steamed bun, tofu and stew with rice. The foreign traders who came to Thailand brought along spices and herbs, enabling the Thais to make curries such as yellow curry and massaman curry.
In the 17th century, Thai food started being influenced by the Westerners as they brought tomatoes, corn, papaya, chilli pepper, rice and many more.
Popular Thai Food
1. Tom yam goong
The hot and spicy soup that often comes with shrimp with the taste of lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and lemon juice. This refreshing and flavourful dish is the most mouth-watering dish among all the Thai food and contains ingredients that are beneficial to our body.
2. Som tam
Som tam is a sweet, sour and spicy dish made using green papaya salad mixed with sour fruits, vegetables, green papayas, and tomatoes. Som tam is seasoned with lime, palm sugar, garlic, chilli, shrimp and pounded-fried peanut.
3. Pad thai
Pad Thai is a thin Thai stir-fried noodle that is cooked with sweet, savoury sauce and topped with crushed peanuts. It often comes with bean sprout, garlic egg, and tofu.
4. Khao pad
Khao pad is Thai-fried rice cooked with fresh shrimp paste and often comes with onion, garlic, peppers and sometimes thin slices of tomatoes. The rice is coated with egg, giving it a mild savoury flavour.
5. Green chicken curry
Green chicken curry is famous in central Thailand and tastes a little mild and pungent than red curry. It is made using coconut milk and fresh green chillies, which give it its colour. The green curry is usually mixed with the kaffir limes and Thai basil, and it is best enjoyed with hot steamed rice.
6. Mango with sticky rice
Mango with sticky rice is one of the most famous Thai desserts. It consists of sticky rice that soaked with coconut milk seasoned with salt. The sticky rice is topped with sweet coconut milk sauce and mango.
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