Traditional Thai Food Dishes

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One of the world's most popular cuisines, Thai food is valued not only for its superb flavours and variety, but also for its healthy composition and low fat.

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The following are typical, everyday Thai food dishes. In addition to these Leelavadee offers a variety of Special and Regional Thai dishes.  Thais tend to eat what we call "starters" as snacks  between meals rather than at mealtime.

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“Starters” (not typically used at Thai mealtimes)

 These may be accompaniments to a meal or snacks. They may include spring rolls, satay, rice cakes with toppings

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  Salads

 Cold vegetables , sometimes with chicken, with hot and spicy dressing that is also a bit sweet, sour and salty

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 Dips

 Some dips are also used on salads. Some are part of a main meal and have meat and vegetables to dip into the sauce. A popular dip is made from chillies, garlic, dried shrimps, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar and shrimp paste

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 Soups

 Traditional Thai soups are outstanding for flavours and textures. A popular soup is Tom Yum, or 'hotand sour' soup. It is typically made with either prawns or chicken or beef

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 Curries

 The major ingredients in a Thai curry are fresh, unlike the ground dried spices of other curries. A basic Thai curry paste is chillies, shallots and shrimp paste. Added to that can be other ingredients such as garlic, galangal (a member of the ginger family), coriander, lemongrass or kaffir lime leaves. Typical curries are Green or Red

 
Other main dishes

 Other dishes might include rice or noodles, such as Pad Thai (fried noodles with chicken and vegetables) or Khao Pad (fried rice - khao means 'rice')

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 Desserts

 Thai desserts are very sweet because they follow a quite strongly spiced meal. They include fried banana, water chestnuts with coconut milk, 'snowballs of rice flour and coconut.

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 Source: Extracts from http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/thaifood.htm  Feb. 2007

 Thailand (2001). [Online], Available: www.kidcyber.com.au