Thai cuisine is internationally famous. It is essentially a union of centuries-old Eastern and Western influences harmoniously combined into something uniquely Thai.
A prepared dinner table with a Thai meal placed on it, consists of a spicy or non-spicy soup, a curry dish with condiments, a dip with accompanying fish and vegetables, and there could also be a spiced salad.
Thai food has evolved much like Indian food, meaning the cooks or chefs take great care so there is a harmony of flavors and textures with each individual dish.
One dish must compliment the other dishes positioned at the dinner table.
What is needed in your kitchen to make a great Thai dish?
You need to know the “Key Ingredients.”
Key Ingredients Needed To Prepare Thai Food
When you dicide to make a Thai dish, the following is what you should find in your refrigerator or pantry.
Banana Leaves
Banana leaf-wrapped food, either it be meat, fish or a savory mixture can be grilled, steamed or roasted.
In the cooking process, the leaves add a unique herbaceous flavor to the dish.
Thai cuisine also used banana leaves as a cooking vessel, folding them into a shape that will hold and cook the food. They are also used as “to-go containers.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a culinary herb that is produced from the stalk of the lemongrass plant and it has a lemony scent.
It is a primary culinary herb in several Thai dishes.
The flavor of the herb tastes almost like a mix of lemon and lemon mint.
The flavor is light and does not overpower other flavors in a dish.
It also adds a slightly sharp and tangy taste without the bitterness of lemon.
It is commonly used in soups, teas and curries.
If you can’t find lemongrass at your local market or Asian market, you can substitute lemon juice in its place.
But keep in mind that the citrus juice won’t be able to fully take the place of the flavor of lemongrass.
Try these Thai dishes with lemongrass.
Lime Leaves
The leaves are a glossy dark green color, and are used to flavor curries, soups, fish cakes and even teas for its fragrant herbal notes.
Thai Basil
Thai basil and holy basil are related to each other and both are used in Thai cuisine.
Thai basil has a subtle sweet anise flavor. Whereas, holy basil has a more spicy flavor.
The flavor of holy basil is more like a combination of black pepper and clove than like the sweeter notes of Thai basil. It tends to get even spicier as it is cooked.
Both can be found at your local Asian markets.
You’ll enjoy this deliciously yummy Thai Chicken Stir-Fry with Holy Basil.
Fish Sauce
Fish sauce is a liquid condiment made from fish or krill that have been coated in salt and fermented for up to two years.
A fish sauce container at a fish sauce factory in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
The flavor is savory and the color is red-brown. Fish sauce is used as a staple seasoning in Thai cooking.
Try these deliciously plate Thai dishes using fish sauce.
Green Papaya
A green papaya and an orange papaya are actually the same fruit picked at different stages of development.
Immature green papaya has crisp white flesh with very little flavor.
It is prized mostly for its crunch and used primarily as a base for salads, most notably in Thai salads. Green papaya is used in salads much like cucumber or jícama is.
Tamarind Purée
When purchasing the tamarind puree, you can find it in sticky 14 ounce blocks.
In Thai cuisine the puree is used by diluting 1 ounce pureed pulp with 1/3 cup warm water, and then strained.
You can also buy it ready made and jarred with no need of diluting it.
The concentrated tamarind is said to have a sour taste that can be overpowering in Pad Thai.
Thai Chili Peppers
These peppers are small in shape, come in green, red, and orange color, and fiery in taste.
Though as spicy as the chili maybe, it is said the chili gives a subtle fruity flavor when used in Thai cooking.
If Thai chilis are too much for your palate, you can use Serrano peppers instead.
Dried Shrimp
Small little dried shrimp add salty flavor to noodle dishes and salads.
Dried shrimp can keep indefinitely in a cool dark place within an airtight container.
No dried shrimp in this recipe – but there is wild caught fresh shrimp: Shrimp Pad Thai
Having these key ingredients used in authentic Thai cooking in your pantry or refrigerator, will always be at your reach in a moments notice.
If unable to find them at your favorite grocers, try looking for them in an Asian market.
Try these Thai recipes. Their deliciously yummy.
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