Creating Thai Food to Your Taste

 

The art of Thai cooking has been developed and refined over many centuries. This art has placed emphasis on the harmonious blending of various ingredients, particularly as the individual ingredients can vary by freshness and so forth. Without harmony the taste and the dish fall short.
The art of Thai cooking not only emphasizes harmony of taste, but also places value on the use of color and texture in a dish.
Over the centuries, most Thai dishes have drawn from the realm of herbs, roots, plants, spices and seeds to perfect the flavor, texture and presentation of a dish. The five elements of taste in Thai food are: sweet, salty, sour, spicy and bitter. There are no set ground rules for characteristics of Thai food, due largely to variables such as the region, the chef, or the occasion. The brand or processing of ingredients is also sometimes a factor.
When cooking Thai dishes, one may follow a recipe, but use it as a guideline when it comes to taste. Taste varies for each individual, sometimes in response to the above variables such as ingredient quality or occasion, and thus the tastes of the recipe author may or may not reflect one's own taste.
The sweetness of a dish not only comes from the vegetable or meat, but also from the processed sugar. There are many types and brands of sugar which certainly do not provide the same sweetness. In many Thai desserts, coconut palm sugar is required. However, some recipes may suggest palm sugar as a viable substitute. Both coconut palm sugar and palm sugar come from natural sources and are interchangeable; however, they differ from each other in taste and aroma.
In Thai cooking, fish sauce is one of the most important seasoning components, and there are a wide variety of brands to choose from. One brand may be saltier than others. Adding fish sauce little by little is always a good practice. Adding lime juice to crank up the sourness is a common practice in Thai cooking. However, there are so many types of limes, such as Key Lime, Limequat, Mandarin Lime or Sweet Lime. Each lime type has some sour flavor, but some also have a flavor of sweetness in them like Limequat and Sweet Lime.
Thais love spiciness and it has even become a trademark for Thai food. There are many types of Thai chili, and in practice, use varies by dish. The two famous chili types are Prig Kee Noo (spicy) and Prig Chee Fah (not very spicy). Within the Prig Kee Noo family, there are also different types with different degrees of spiciness. In Thailand, for instance, when Thais order Som Tum (Papaya Salad), the waitress or seller will ask "how many chilies do you want?" For some, just one Prig Kee Noo can burn the mouth. Curry pastes, another example, have different degrees of spiciness with each brand.
The flavor of bitterness usually comes from vegetables, herbs, plant or spices. Bitter Melon is a well-known vegetable for its bitterness. However, it is a very common vegetable in Thailand because of its nutritious content, especially antioxidants. Proper cooking, built on adding the right amount of sauces and ingredients can definitely remove most of the bitter flavor if not all.
Also consider coconut milk, which is used widely enough that it contributes significantly to coconut being considered a kind of Thai staple food item. Canned coconut milk and fresh pressed coconut milk can make a difference in the outcome of the dish since many Thai dishes use either thick (first pressed milk) and/or thin (second or later pressed milk). Canned coconut milk is usually thicker than fresh first pressed coconut milk. Today, coconut milk powder is available in the market for making coconut milk. With coconut powder, one can make thick and thin coconut milk by simply adjusting the amount of water. Coconut milk is one other example among many of a variable ingredient which helps set the stage for harmonizing dishes.
Since herbs, roots, plants and seeds have played important roles in Thai cooking, proper cooking is critical. This is because improper cooking can destroy the nutritional value, flavor or texture of ingredients. It is also very important that dishes must be a harmony of tastes within individual dishes and the entire meal.
Following a recipe is a good idea, but when it comes to taste follow your own preference. Know your ingredients and start adding flavor items in small amounts. Most Thai dishes can be fixed to some extent. If it is too sweet, adding a little bit of fish sauce will fix the problem and vice versa. If it is too sour, add a little bit of water; sugar or fish sauce will help. The harmony of tastes is a key to Thai dishes. However, some may disagree with a philosophy of harmonious flavor because some may like to have some flavors fighting in one's mouth. It is after all very much about one's preferences and taste. While the above highlights some elements in the art of Thai cooking, there are also important contributions made to Thai cooking by a variety of creative approaches. Thai cooking is a rich and living art that can lead to many new adventures.
Napatr Lindsley

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Thai Food - Rich in Culture and Flavor

 

Thailand, located in Southeast Asia, is known for its gorgeous mountains, scenic beaches and bustling shopping districts. One of Thailand's most memorable features is its delectable cuisine. Thai Food is a mixture of several flavors blended into perfect harmony. Balance is essential in the Thai culture and is exemplified in its cuisine. There are 5 fundamental tastes that are merged in each dish. Thai dishes often consist of foods that maintain a delicate balance between being salty, sweet, sour, bitter or spicy. It is this detailed attention that garners the praise that Thai food is often given. Thai food is among the most internationally known cuisines available in the world.
Thai food is most commonly known for being spicy. Dishes like Kaeng khae and Tom khlong are just a few examples. Kaeng khae is a spicy curry that consists of vegetables, herbs, meat and leaves from an acacia tree. Tom khlong is a spicy soup with a sourness that is derived through the addition of tamarind juice. Vegetables like tomato, mushroom and drilled chillies along with meat are common in the dish. The Thai cuisine balances certain flavors together. Spicy and sour foods are often paired to balance the taste as well as sweet and salty foods. No one flavor ever truly overshadows the other.

Thai food is said to be a blend of flavors from the four regions in the country. Each region, ranging from Isan to Southern Thailand, has cuisines that have been influenced by their surrounding cultures. Isan, for example, has dishes that are unique to its particular area. The food is slightly different from that of other Thailand regions. In Isan, sticky rice and chillies are an essential part of every meal served. The Isan cuisine consists of hotter, spicier foods with increased sourness. Central Thailand, in contrast, consists of milder flavors with jasmine rice served at many meals. Southern Thailand, located along the Malay Peninsula, has a cuisine that is uses coconuts heavily. Coconut is used as a garnishment for meals as well as for oil and milk.
In addition to specific tastes from the four regions, Thai food is also influenced by the Chinese cuisine. Techniques such as deep frying and products such as soy were introduced to the Thai culture from China. Chinese influence as well as the influence from various areas around the culture all share in shaping the exotic and flavorsome cuisines that Thailand is well known for.

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How to Use Thai Food for Romantic Dinners

 

Are you planning a romantic dinner and want to serve something different from anything you have ever made before? Thai food is the perfect selection in this case, because it is fresh, light and incredibly delicious. This is a cuisine style that is catching on around the world, but which is not so widespread that everyone knows what it is and has tried it before. That makes it perfect for a romantic dinner where you really want to impress.
Choosing Your Method
The first thing you have to do is decide whether you want to attempt making your own Thai food from a recipe, or if you want to order authentic Thai food already prepared. If you decide to order it already prepared, make sure to find a local service that creates authentic Thai cuisine. If you are going to serve Thai, you want to serve real Thai with all its delicious glory.
Another decision to be made if you are going with prepared food is to choose between picking it up or having it delivered to your home. If you pick up, make sure it will be ready and that you can pick up shortly before your dinner is planned to begin. You want it to be fresh and hot so they don't suspect they are eating cold take out.
If you have it delivered, make sure you will have it on time and that it will be fresh for the dinner. As long as you are getting it from a reputable Thai restaurant or delivery service making authentic cuisine, you should be fine.
If you are going to prepare the meal yourself, then keep reading. There are more things you have to consider so everything goes over well.
Study the Recipes
Thai cuisine is incredibly varied because of the different cultural influences that have mixed into the population of Thailand. You could taste test meals from five different authentic Thai restaurants and experience different flavors and cooking methods, all as a result of this variety.
So, it is important to spend some time studying Thai recipes and finding those that appeal to your taste buds or which your date will appreciate. You can find a lot of great desserts as well, so make sure to find recipes for every phase of your romantic meal.
The earlier you start reading recipes the better. Give yourself time to find recipes that you believe you have the cooking skills to master and which don't use strange ingredients that you may not be able to find. If you are uncertain about any ingredients, check into finding them before you decide for sure on that recipe.
Practice
Don't let the night of the big dinner be the first time you attempt the recipes you have chosen! You want to make sure you can create the recipe chosen and that the flavors come out as they should. Most people will tweak recipes based on their own taste buds and preparing the meal at least once in advance allows you to do this without the pressure of someone waiting for their meal or about to walk through the door.
Authentic Thai food is extremely tasty and can be very impressive to someone who has never had it before. Choose the right recipes or the right Thai restaurant service and you will have great food to start off a great romantic dinner.

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How to Be Careful With Super Hot Spicy Thai Food When Traveling in Thailand!

 

 

My one piece of advice for travelers who are vacationing in Thailand and want to savior the Thai foods is simple - ask if the food is hot (as in 'spicy' hot) before you put it in your mouth!
Of course you also need to realize that what food is hot (and probably normal) for a Thai may be super hot, eye watering and physically punishing for a foreigner. Just because the food attendant says "it's not hot" doesn't mean it won't be hot for YOU. So keep that in mind, unless you want to be crying all the way home!
The thing is, down in the south of Thailand at least, eating rice with the addition of spicy 'prik' or spicy peppers is an everyday occurrence. You can often choose if you want your food hot or not, but sometimes it's best to say "not hot please" just in case. Another thing to do is cast your eyes over the food - you'll usually have a strong feeling if it's spicy or not. Your eyes will water and your stomach will tell you!

Although some foreigners can 'fire eat' the spicy food without a worry in the world, others get an uncomfortable fire in the belly from super hot food. If this happens to you (it's common to suddenly find spices or spicy peppers included in a Thai dish), eat the sliced cucumbers that will come served with every meal as they'll have a cooling effect and take away some of the fire. (Or make sure the restaurant has them available!)
In a nutshell, when you come to Thailand, it's inevitable that sooner or later you'll get served spicy Thai food and other Thai delicacies. (Especially if you travel down to the southern regions). Definitely give it a try - just make sure to have those sliced cucumbers handy!

Martin has been writing articles for nearly 3 years. Based in Thailand, he keeps a firm eye on discount travel packages and air travel opportunities. Come visit his latest website that takes an adventurous look into the best cheap flights to Thailand and amazing cheap travel packages for your next Thailand vacation.

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3 Reasons to Love Thai Food

 

Ask anyone you know that loves Thai food and they will give you their personal reasons for enjoying it so much. There is definitely a reason this style of cuisine is growing in popularity around the world! If you are considering joining the ranks of enthusiasts, consider just three of the most often stated reasons for loving this cuisine style:

#1: Variety

One thing is for certain: you will never get bored exploring Thai food! Since there have been a variety of cultural influences on the population in Thailand, there are different styles of Thai food that are more popular in different areas of the country. This has led to an immense variety of Thai foods with different flavors and cooking styles.
There are still some elements on the cuisine that pull all of these different influences together, such as the love of rice and vegetables, but how these basic foods are combined, spiced and made into meals is quite varied.
You can experiment with different types of Thai foods to see what pleases your palate the most. Have some fun with it and try a variety of recipes to get the full experience of what Thai food has to offer.
If you are interested in learning to cook Thai, eating authentically prepared dishes from a delivery service or restaurant is the best way to study! You will then know what the cuisine is all about and recreating that in your own kitchen will be easier. To be an excellent cook of Thai you have to be an eater of Thai.

#2: Intense Flavor

The different flavors used in Thai food and the way they are mingled together is another reason to love this style of food. Once you taste it, you see that it is quite different from other ethnic foods because of the spices, vegetables and fruits used in very unique ways.
Thai food should have a lot of flavor and there should be a lot of flavor mixtures that are pure heaven on the tongue. Not only is this true of Thai desserts, but of main courses as well.

#3: Healthy Options

Thai cuisine is one of the few that can easily be made very healthy. If you are concerned with weight loss or just keeping in shape and healthy so you can sustain an active life, Thai food is a great way to eat out of the house without setting your goals back.
Some of the most basic ingredients found in Thai recipes include vegetables, rice, and lean meats like chicken. There isn't a lot of beef found in Thai food, which is a good thing considering the high saturated fat in beef. Rather, you will learn to cook meatless meals as well as working with healthier meat options like fish and chicken.
A lot of authentic Thai recipes will use fresh spices and herbs rather than thick sauces and oils that can pack the calories into a meal. Even recipes that do have sausage, oil and other fatty elements can often be tweaked a bit to be lighter and more calorie-friendly.
Remember, not every Thai meal will be completely healthy, but you have a lot more options for healthy eating with this type of cuisine than you do with most others.

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Thai Food and Culture

 

Thai Superstitions Surrounding Food
In Thailand, meals are traditionally eaten in a group setting. Unlike in America, the Thais believe it is bad luck to eat alone. Considering the Thais eat in large groups, it's therefore not surprising that a typical Thai dinner consists of three or more different dishes. And since, in Thailand, it is bad luck to throw food away, normally all of these dishes would be consumed in one sitting. Discarding food might anger the Thai "god of rice", a female deity who watches over the people, ensuring everyone has enough to eat. Bad luck or even widespread famine may ensue if food goes uneaten or is needlessly wasted.
A Typical Thai Meal
In Thailand, a typical meal would consist of the following:

One or two curry dishes, such as green, yellow, or red curry. These might be made with red meat, poultry, tofu, vegetables, or seafood, depending on the region and what protein sources are readily available.

A noodle dish such as Pad Thai noodles. These flavorful rice noodles might be made with tofu, chicken, or prawns.

A vegetable stir-fry dish made with just one or a variety of fresh local vegetables.

With all meals, Thai jasmine-scented rice is served on the side. Dessert may consist of something as simple as fresh fruit such as pineapple or papaya. For a beverage, most Thais enjoy their meal with a cold lager or a cool drink such as lime water or Thai iced tea.

How do Thais eat?
You've probably noticed that most Thai restaurants provide chopsticks to their patrons. And while the Chinese did bring chopsticks to Thailand several centuries ago, today most Thais prefer to use Western cutlery-but in their own special way. Thai cutlery generally consists of a fork and large spoon (tablespoon). The spoon is held in the right hand and used (in place of a knife) to cut meat as well as to scoop up the food (in place of a fork).
When eating, most Americans load up their plates with various types of food, as at a buffet table. In contrast, the Thais do not combine various foods on their plates, but rather, they sample one dish at a time, always eaten with a mound of Thai jasmine-scented rice on the side. Unlike the Chinese style, bowls are used mainly for soup, not in place of a plate.
Finally, just for fun, encourage your family or guests to eat like the Thais do, sampling one dish at a time and eating with a spoon and fork. Most of all, take the time to enjoy your good health, your friends and loved ones, and last but not least, the wonderful Thai food on your plate. After all, good food truly is a reason to celebrate!

Michael Moran is the founder of CurrySimple Thai food products. With sauces made in Thailand, CurrySimple allows the average person the ability to cook a restaurant quality Thai meal at home. The concept evolved after spending years working in Thai restaurants while listening to his customer's conversations about the difficulty and complexity of cooking Thai food. Now with the development of the sauces (the hard part in Thai cooking), enjoying the taste and health benefits of Thai food is easy.

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Tips For Cooking Authentic Thai Food

 

Like Thai Food? Love to cook? Perhaps your first attempt did not turn out like in the picture or taste like at the restaurant. Well, do not give up on cooking Thai food. Some Thai dishes may seem difficult because of a long list of ingredients and instructions. Thai cooking is all about ingredients and preparation. In Thailand, frozen or canned food is not very common. Thais love fresh ingredients. Thailand is one of the lucky countries in the world that has abundant vegetables, exotic fruit, seafood, etc. There is a well-known verse in Thailand describing abundant food resources: "Nai Nam Mee Pla Nai Na Mee Khao" which means "In river, there is fish, in the field, there is rice." This article will start with some general tips and then move in to specific tips for each food category.
Ingredients
Ingredients are the most important part of authentic Thai cooking. If you live in Thailand or in Southeast Asia, finding fresh Thai ingredients is easy. But if you live somewhere else, finding fresh ingredients can be difficult or troublesome especially for those who do not live in a city. If you decide to make Thai dishes, first invest a little of your time getting to know the ingredients. Then find the nearest Asian grocery store. If you like, call to see if they carry ingredients you are looking for. For instance, if you are looking for "Winter Melon", not all Asian grocery stores carry it. If you prefer, buying online can safe you driving time. If you cannot find fresh ingredients, try frozen and canned foods. In my opinion, most frozen products are the next best thing to fresh food. For instance, stir-fried shredded ginger with pork has two main ingredients: shredded ginger and pork. Shredded ginger? Sounds like lots of work to use fresh ginger. One might try a jar or can, but the taste and aroma of the ginger are not the same as the fresh version. It is not difficult to make shredded ginger if you have the right peeler. Try your best to find fresh produce, as it will be a good start to cooking authentic Thai dishes.
Equipment
Thais use a wok and pot in most dishes with the exception of desserts. For desserts, it is not required but it is recommended to use a bronze wok (Ka Ta Thong Lueng). Other common equipment includes a mortar and pestle. In Thailand, gas stoves are the most commonly used. Electric stoves are uncommon and not very popular because heat may not be distributed evenly. Regarding the mortar and pestle, it depends on one's desire. If you are going to cook Thai dishes very often, a mortar and pestle can become handy in your kitchen. Otherwise, using typical kitchen tools like a knife and cutting board can accomplish the same goal. Food processors or blenders are another option when it comes to making pastes.
Preparation
Preparation is also one of the keys to authentic Thai cooking. As mentioned above, Thai food focuses largely on ingredients and preparation. Preparation in particular is essential to authentic Thai food. You may spend more time preparing ingredients than you actually spend cooking. For instance, it may take about 30 minutes to prepare all ingredients for Tom Kha Gai but you only spend about 15 minutes cooking. A typical Thai dinner consists of 4-5 communal dishes. It may take up to 2 hours to prepare all ingredients, but only 1 hour to make. A few reasons follow regarding why Thais spend more time on preparation. Thais like their meat in bite size pieces. Fresh vegetables require time to wash, cut and maybe pad dry. Pounding spices and fresh herbs is also common for many dishes. Some desserts like Ta Go (sweet on the bottom layer with salty coconut topping in a pandanus basket) require lots of time in preparation starting from cleaning and cutting leaves and then making baskets. Depending on the amount of Ta Go you are making, it can take up to hours just to make those tiny baskets. Don't be discouraged by this because after preparation, the wonderful dishes are right around the corner!
Cooking to Your Taste
The art of Thai cooking has placed emphasis on the harmonious blending of various ingredients, particularly as the individual ingredients can vary by freshness and so on. Without harmony the taste and the dish fall short. The five elements of taste in Thai food are: sweet, salty, sour, spicy and bitter. When cooking Thai dishes, one may follow a recipe, but use it as a guideline when it comes to taste. Taste varies for each individual, sometimes in response to variables such as ingredient quality or occasion, and thus the tastes of the recipe author may or may not reflect one's own taste. Following a recipe is a good idea, but when it comes to taste follow your own preference. Know your ingredients and start adding flavorful items in small amounts. For instance, when it comes to curry pastes and fish sauce, some brands are saltier than others. Most Thai dishes can be fixed to some extent. If it is too sweet, adding a little bit of fish sauce will fix the problem and vice versa. If it is too sour, add a little bit of water; sugar or fish sauce will help.
Coconut Milk
Thai food and coconut milk almost always go together. Many dishes require Hua Ka Ti (first pressed coconut milk or creamy coconut milk) and/or Hang Ka Ti (second or third pressed milk or water-like coconut milk). To make fresh coconut milk, finely grated coconut meat is still steeped in warm water, not hot water. It is then squeezed until dry. The white fluid from the first press is called "Hua Ka Ti". Warm water is then added again to make the second and third pressed coconut milk, which is called "Hang Ka Ti." Finely grated coconut meat is generally used about 3 times and then discarded. Freshly pressed coconut milk has a better taste and aroma than commercial coconut milk in a can.
If you use canned coconut milk, you will need to have a can at a cold temperature because cold temperatures help separate the creamy coconut part and the water-like part. The creamy coconut milk will float to the top of the can. During hot weather, you may want to leave a can of coconut milk in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.
Fried Rice
Good fried rice is not difficult to make. The most important part is the steamed rice. The rice should be cooked but firm, not mushy and soft. If steamed rice is soft and mushy, when it is stir-fried it will all stick together. Good rice in fried rice should be easy to break up and the grains should stay intact. So to make the steamed rice, make sure you use a little less water than normal so that the rice is dryer than normal. Keeping rice in a refrigerator for 2-3 days is another alternative, but if your rice is mushy and soft after those 2-3 days, the fried rice will also still clump together. Other keys to making good fried rice are using a wok and high heat. Heat must be evenly distributed and consistently hot all thel time. A wok is recommended for making fried rice but not required.
Curry
There are two main types of Thai curries: coconut-based and non-coconut based. Those which use coconut milk mostly have similar initial steps which include separating the coconut oil and mixing curry paste into coconut milk. These first 2 steps are keys to perfecting your curry dishes. For instance, if you are making green curry, red curry, matsaman, or kaeng kari, the very first step is bringing Hua Ka Ti (first pressed milk or creamy coconut milk) to a boil until the oil starts to separate. You do not want to boil too long because you will break Hua Ka Ti and it will look like little white balls. After adding curry paste into the coconut milk, stir until the green or red oil separates and floats to the top. Frequently stirring curry paste is required because you do not want to burn the paste. Curry paste may stick to a cooking spoon, so make sure to remove it from the spoon. During this process, if Hua Ka Ti is getting dry, add 3-4 tablespoons of Hua Ka Ti at a time to keep the curry paste from burning. After adding vegetables, do not overcook them.
Stir-fried
Most stir-fried dishes take a short time to cook, especially stir-fried vegetables. The main key to most stir-fired dishes is heat. Heat must be evenly distributed throughout the wok or pan. Most recipes will suggest to heat up vegetable oil. In this step, one must make sure that the oil is hot and spread all over the wok (up to the side) or pan. In some dishes, after adding meat and/or vegetables, the pan or wok starts to get drier, so one may add a little bit of water so that the food won't get burned. For vegetables, make sure they are not overcooked.
Desserts
Thai desserts are not too difficult to make. Some may be easier than others. Some require more patience and time than others. Many Thai desserts require one to use the same ingredients, and substitutes are not recommended. For instance, if Khanom Ta Go asks for mung bean flour, other flour substitutes usually won't work well. Khanom Bua Loy requires sticky rice flour, and one may not use multipurpose flour or tapioca flour or some other types of flour. In some desserts like potato in ginger syrup, one can use mixed types of potatoes. Khanom Kaeng Buat can consist of taro, potato and/or pumpkin. When making Thai desserts, read instructions carefully.
Ingredients and preparation are the keys to cooking authentic Thai food. Some of the first few dishes in particular may require patience. However, once you have gotten to know Thai ingredients more and more, you will find how easy it is to cook authentic Thai food. As for Thai desserts, some are very simple and easy to make and you can perfect them the first time you try. Some desserts may take practice and time to develop certain skills. Do not be discouraged by recipe directions or how beautiful a picture of a dish might be. When you decide to cook authentic Thai food, gather up some friends and enjoy your cooking. Have fun!

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