A Taste Of Thai Cuisine

The distinctive taste of Thai cuisine is now enjoyed all over the world. Original Thai cooking reflects the land and waters where Thais have traditionally lived. For generations people in Thailand learnt to cook by watching and helping out. Thai cuisine is influenced by the neighbouring countries especially India, China and Malaysia.

Thai cuisine places emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic flavours and is known for being spicy. An assimilation of Indian spices, Malaysian and Chinese preparation and cooking methods give Thai cuisine its distinctive taste. Balance, detail and variety are important to creating a harmonious contrast in Thai cooking. It is known for its balance of the five fundamental taste senses in each dish or the overall meal: hot (spicy), sour, sweet, salty, and (optional) bitter. Ideally to create the unique taste fresh ingredients should be used.



The exotic ingredients used in the Thai recipes may not be available everywhere, but it is still possible to create some delicious dishes using some dried spices. The common ingredients are coconut milk, fresh turmeric and lime juice. Coconut milk is used in soups and curries, the coconut can be shredded for use in deserts.

A Taste Of Thai Cuisine

There are four basic Thai herbs and spices essential l for Thai cuisine, chilli, lemongrass, kaffir lime and galangal. Dishes such as Tom Yum Soup (spicy soup), Num Prik (Chillie Paste) and Gai Pad Kha (Siamise Ginger Chicken). A full Thai meal would consist of either a single dish or rice khao with many complementary dishes such as aromatic curries and stir fries. Rice is the staple food, and jasmine rice with its natural aroma is made as steamed rice. Highly aromatic curries and stir fries consisting of large quantities of chillies, lime juice and lemon grass accompany the rice. Noodles are also a very important part of Thai cuisine.
The beauty of Thai cooking is that the recipe can be used as a guideline as the quantities of the ingredients can be varied according to taste. Vegetarian dishes can also be created. The secret of a delicious Thai dish for your family and friends is to be creative when combining all the flavours.
A Taste Of Thai Cuisine