Thai food brings exciting flavors to your kitchen. You can create tasty Thai dishes at home without ordering takeout.
From spicy curries to fresh salads, Thai recipes offer variety for every meal.
You can make many popular Thai dishes with ingredients found at regular grocery stores. Pad Thai, green curry, and mango sticky rice are just a few options to try.
With some basic techniques and key seasonings, you’ll be cooking delicious Thai food in no time.
1. Pad Thai
Pad Thai is a popular Thai stir-fried noodle dish. You’ll love its mix of sweet, sour, and savory flavors.
The main ingredients are rice noodles, eggs, tofu, and shrimp or chicken.
To make Pad Thai, start by soaking rice noodles in warm water. Next, stir-fry your protein of choice with garlic and shallots.
Add the noodles and sauce, then push everything to one side of the pan.
Scramble an egg in the empty space. Mix it all together with bean sprouts and chopped peanuts.
Serve your Pad Thai hot, garnished with lime wedges and extra peanuts.
This dish is quick to make and perfect for busy weeknights. You can easily adjust the flavors to suit your taste.
2. Green Curry
Green curry is a popular Thai dish known for its vibrant color and bold flavors. You can make it at home using store-bought or homemade curry paste.
The paste combines cilantro, lemongrass, garlic, and chilies for a fragrant and spicy base.
To prepare green curry, heat oil in a pan and fry the curry paste briefly. Add coconut milk, your choice of protein, and vegetables.
Simmer until everything is cooked through.
You can adjust the spiciness by changing the amount of chili in the paste. For a milder version, use less chili or add more coconut milk.
Serve your green curry with steamed rice for a satisfying meal.
3. Red Curry
Red curry is a popular Thai dish known for its rich, spicy flavor. You can make it easily at home in about 30-40 minutes.
The key ingredient is red curry paste, which gives the dish its signature taste and color.
To prepare red curry, start by cooking your choice of protein in a pan. Chicken is a common option, but you can also use beef, pork, or tofu.
Add vegetables like bell peppers, green beans, and bamboo shoots for extra flavor and nutrition.
The sauce is made by combining coconut milk with red curry paste. You can adjust the amount of paste to control the spice level. Fish sauce and palm sugar are often added to balance the flavors.
4. Tom Yum Goong
Tom Yum Goong is a famous Thai soup known for its bold flavors. This hot and sour dish features plump shrimp as its star ingredient.
The soup’s base is made by boiling fresh herbs and spices together. Key ingredients include lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and galangal.
You can find two main versions of Tom Yum Goong: clear and creamy. The clear version is lighter, while the creamy one adds evaporated milk for richness.
To make this soup at home, you’ll need to gather authentic Thai ingredients. Fresh shrimp, chili peppers, and mushrooms are essential for the best taste.
Tom Yum Goong is not just delicious, but also nutritious. It’s packed with protein from the shrimp and has relatively low fat content.
5. Som Tum
Som Tum is a popular Thai green papaya salad. It’s a refreshing dish that balances sweet, spicy, salty, and sour flavors.
To make Som Tum, you’ll need unripe green papaya, tomatoes, green beans, peanuts, lime juice, fish sauce, and chili peppers.
Shred the papaya into thin strips and soak it in ice water to crisp it up.
Mix the ingredients in a large bowl. The dressing combines lime juice and fish sauce for a tangy kick. Add chilies to adjust the heat level to your liking.
Som Tum is perfect as a light meal or side dish. It’s quick to prepare and packed with fresh flavors. Try this tasty salad for a taste of authentic Thai cuisine.
6. Massaman Curry
Massaman curry is a mild Thai dish with a rich, creamy sauce. You’ll love its unique blend of spices like cinnamon and star anise, which give it an Indian-inspired twist.
This curry typically features tender chicken, potatoes, and onions. The sauce combines coconut milk with massaman curry paste for a sweet and savory flavor.
You can easily make this curry at home.
Start by cooking the curry paste with coconut milk. Then add your chicken and vegetables. Let everything simmer until the meat is cooked through and the potatoes are soft.
Serve your massaman curry over steamed rice for a comforting meal. It’s perfect for those new to Thai cooking or who prefer less spicy dishes.
7. Tom Kha Gai
Tom Kha Gai is a beloved Thai coconut chicken soup. It’s creamy, tangy, and packed with flavor.
To make it, you’ll simmer chicken in coconut milk with aromatic herbs and spices. Key ingredients include lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and Thai chilies.
The soup gets its signature taste from a balance of salty fish sauce, tart lime juice, and a touch of palm sugar. Mushrooms and tomatoes are often added for extra texture and taste.
You can adjust the spiciness to your liking by changing the number of chilies. For a vegetarian version, swap the chicken for tofu and use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock.
8. Mango Sticky Rice
Mango sticky rice is a beloved Thai dessert. You’ll need glutinous rice, coconut milk, sugar, salt, and ripe mangoes.
Steam the sticky rice until tender. While it cooks, heat coconut milk with sugar and salt to make a sweet sauce.
Pour the warm sauce over the cooked rice and let it absorb. Slice fresh mangoes and serve alongside the coconut-infused rice.
For variety, try adding black sticky rice to the mix. This gives a beautiful color contrast and nutty flavor.
You can adjust the sweetness to your liking. Some prefer it less sweet, while others enjoy a more indulgent treat.
9. Thai Basil Chicken
Thai Basil Chicken is a quick and tasty dish you can make in just 10 minutes. It combines chicken, basil leaves, and bell peppers in a flavorful stir-fry.
The sauce uses common Asian ingredients to create a sweet and savory glaze. You can use chicken thighs for juicier meat or ground chicken for a different texture.
For the best flavor, try grinding the garlic and chilies with a mortar and pestle. This releases more oils and creates a more vibrant taste.
Serve your Thai Basil Chicken over steamed rice. Some people like to add a fried egg on top for extra richness. It’s an easy weeknight meal that brings restaurant flavors to your kitchen.
10. Pad Kee Mao
Pad Kee Mao, also known as Drunken Noodles, is a popular Thai street food. You can make this tasty dish at home in about 20 minutes.
The recipe uses wide rice noodles stir-fried with chicken, vegetables, and a flavorful sauce. Key ingredients include holy basil, which gives the dish its distinct flavor.
You can adjust the spice level to your liking. For an authentic taste, use Thai holy basil if you can find it. Regular Thai basil works well too.
This dish is versatile. You can swap chicken for beef, pork, shrimp, or tofu. Pad Kee Mao is perfect for a quick weeknight meal or when you’re craving Thai flavors.
11. Gaeng Keow Wan
Gaeng Keow Wan is a popular Thai green curry dish. It’s known for its vibrant green color and rich, spicy flavor.
The main ingredients include green curry paste, coconut milk, and your choice of meat or vegetables. Chicken and eggplant are common additions.
To make Gaeng Keow Wan, start by cooking the curry paste in coconut milk. Add your protein and vegetables, then simmer until cooked through.
Finish the dish with Thai basil leaves and kaffir lime leaves for extra aroma. Serve your Gaeng Keow Wan hot with steamed rice or rice noodles for a tasty meal.
12. Khao Pad
Khao Pad is a popular Thai fried rice dish. You can make it at home in just 15 minutes. It uses jasmine rice, eggs, and your choice of protein like shrimp or chicken.
The key flavors come from garlic, shallots, and Thai seasonings. Most recipes skip vegetables like peas or carrots. Instead, they focus on herbs like cilantro and green onions.
To cook Khao Pad, start by frying garlic and onions in oil. Add your protein and rice, then mix in eggs. Season with fish sauce, soy sauce, and a pinch of sugar. Top with cilantro before serving.
This versatile dish works great for quick meals. You can easily adjust it to your taste preferences.
13. Larb Gai
Larb Gai is a tasty Thai chicken salad that’s quick to make. You mix cooked minced chicken with lime juice, fish sauce, and chili for a spicy kick.
The dish often includes toasted rice powder, which adds a nice crunch. You can serve it with fresh lettuce leaves as wraps.
Larb Gai is light and refreshing, perfect for warm days. It’s packed with flavor from herbs like mint and cilantro.
You can adjust the spice level to suit your taste. Serve it with sticky rice for a complete meal.
14. Panang Curry
Panang curry is a rich and flavorful Thai dish. It has a thick, creamy sauce made with coconut milk and panang curry paste. The paste contains spices like lemongrass, kaffir lime, and chili peppers.
You can make panang curry with various proteins. Pork is common in Thailand, but chicken and beef work well too. For a vegetarian option, try tofu or extra veggies.
To make it at home, start by cooking the curry paste in oil. Add coconut milk and your chosen protein. Simmer until cooked through. Finish with fish sauce, palm sugar, and Thai basil leaves.
Serve your panang curry over jasmine rice for a delicious Thai meal. It’s easier to make than you might think and tastes great.
15. Thai Iced Tea
Thai iced tea is a sweet and creamy beverage enjoyed by many. You can make it at home using Thai tea leaves, sweetened condensed milk, and evaporated milk.
To prepare, brew strong Thai tea and let it cool. Add sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk to taste. Pour over ice for a refreshing drink.
You can adjust the sweetness by changing the amount of condensed milk. For a dairy-free version, try using coconut milk instead.
Thai iced tea is a treat, not a health drink. It contains sugar and calories, so enjoy it in moderation.
16. Spring Rolls
Spring rolls are a tasty Thai appetizer. You can make them with rice paper wrappers filled with veggies, noodles, and protein. Popular fillings include shrimp, chicken, or tofu.
To make spring rolls, dip the rice paper in warm water to soften it. Place your fillings in the center. Fold the bottom up, then the sides in, and roll tightly.
Serve fresh spring rolls with a dipping sauce like peanut or sweet chili. For a crispy version, you can fry them in oil. Spring rolls are perfect for parties or as a light meal.
Try making spring rolls at home. They’re fun to assemble and let you get creative with fillings. You can customize them to your taste preferences.
Thai Culinary Techniques
Thai cooking uses unique methods to create balanced, flavorful dishes. Key techniques include blending spices, using specific cooking tools, and combining ingredients in ways that bring out their best qualities.
Balancing Flavors
Thai cuisine is known for its perfect balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors. To achieve this, you need to taste and adjust as you cook.
Start with a base of aromatics like garlic, shallots, and ginger. Add fish sauce for saltiness, palm sugar for sweetness, and lime juice for sourness. Chili peppers bring heat.
Mix and taste often. If a dish is too salty, add sugar or lime juice. If it’s too sour, add a bit more sugar. The goal is harmony between all flavors.
Use fresh herbs like Thai basil, cilantro, and kaffir lime leaves to add depth. These are often added at the end of cooking to keep their bright flavors.
Traditional Cooking Methods
Thai cooking uses several key techniques to create authentic flavors and textures.
Stir-frying is common. Use a wok over high heat and cook ingredients quickly.
This keeps veggies crisp and meats tender.
Grilling adds smoky flavors to meats and seafood. Marinate first for extra taste.
Steaming is used for fish, rice, and some desserts. It keeps foods moist and healthy.
Pounding ingredients in a mortar and pestle is crucial. This releases oils and flavors from herbs and spices for curry pastes and sauces.
Coconut milk is often used in curries and soups. Simmer it gently to avoid curdling.
Essential Thai Ingredients
Thai cooking relies on a blend of distinct flavors from key ingredients. These essential components bring authentic taste to your dishes.
Herbs and Spices
Thai basil adds a peppery, anise-like flavor to many recipes. Use it in stir-fries and curries.
Lemongrass gives a citrusy, floral note to soups and marinades. Crush or slice the bottom part of the stalk for best results.
Galangal looks like ginger but has a sharper, piney taste. It’s often used in soups like tom kha gai.
Kaffir lime leaves bring a unique citrus aroma to curries and soups. Remove them before serving.
Thai chilies pack a fiery punch. Use them sparingly in curries and sauces.
Turmeric gives a warm, earthy flavor and yellow color to many dishes.
Coriander seeds and cumin are common in curry pastes.
Sauces and Pastes
Fish sauce is a salty, umami-rich liquid used in many Thai recipes. A little goes a long way.
Oyster sauce adds depth to stir-fries and noodle dishes. It’s thick and savory with a hint of sweetness.
Curry pastes come in red, green, and yellow varieties. They form the base of many Thai curries.
Coconut milk balances spicy flavors and adds richness to curries and soups.
Tamarind paste gives a sour-sweet taste to pad thai and other dishes.
Shrimp paste is pungent but adds depth to curry pastes and sauces. Use it sparingly for authentic flavor.