If you’re an avid Thai food lover, then you know that it isn’t truly Thai if the food isn’t spicy. The Thais love spicy food so much that even their salad has to have that kick. As Malaysians, we agree to their taste buds. Plus, spicy food is right for your digestive tract.
For those who want a healthy option but are tired of the same choices of grilled chicken, leafy greens and creamy sauce, the Thai Spicy Shrimp Salad is the way to go as it is both healthy and tasty.
What is in a Thai Spicy Shrimp Salad
Unlike ordinary salad, this particular Thai Spicy Shrimp Salad is made up of grilled or lightly sautéed medium-sized shrimp, chopped cucumbers, corn, lime, jalapeno, carrots and of course, not forgetting the vital ingredient present in almost every Thai cuisine – fish sauce, ginger, garlic and brown sugar.
In Thailand, the dish is better known as Yaam Goong or Pla Goong, and it is commonly served as a starter to a full-course dining menu or as a side dish to pair with your rice when dining in.
The variation of Thai Spicy Shrimp Salad
While a typical Thai Spicy Shrimp Salad is made of shrimp, vegetables and the traditional Thai flavours and sauces, there are also a few different ways to achieve the same dish. Some people would replace the shrimp with chicken or beef for those who are allergic to shrimp, and some would replace cucumbers with other cooling vegetables like carrot and iceberg cabbages.
If you go to a lot of different Thai restaurants, you’ll find out that some even serve the Thai Spicy Shrimp Salad on a bed of shaved papaya and glass noodles.
Nutritional Content of a Thai Spicy Shrimp Salad
Salad is one of the healthiest food you can have because it doesn’t use oil or any cooking technique that can store more unhealthy fats like deep-frying or pan-frying. A bowl of Thai Spicy Shrimp Salad contains about 390 calories. It also gives you about 23g of protein- that’s similar to a scoop of protein shake and about 31g of carbs that is needed to provide you with the energy to go through the day.
If you look at the ingredients individually, the central part, the shrimp contains iron and magnesium that is needed to regulate blood pressure, and it also contains a lot of antioxidants that help you prevent irritation and inflammation.
The cucumber, on the other hand, replenishes lost water and lowers your blood sugar level. Like the shrimp, it also contains antioxidants. While the ginger and garlic used are also used to fight infection, the fact that it is spicy helps you to clear your digestion track and control your body temperature.
Where to get the Thai Spicy Shrimp Salad in Malaysia
If the dish sounds appealing to you and you are ready to colour up your healthy diet, head over to Eathai Food and ask for their Spicy Seafood Salad. They also have a large number of spicy Thai salad selections like Spicy Shrimp and Enoki Mushroom or the Shrimp Salad with Lemon Grass and Mint.
Similarly, you can also have your spicy salad delivered to your house via the foodpanda app. This way, no one knows if your drop some tears while eating your spicy salad.