Thailand allows you to significantly push the boundaries of ideas about food - not all local dishes are devilishly spicy, there are exceptions! Especially for you, we have compiled a kind of rating of national cuisine, including options available to every tourist - from the famous hot sauce to street food.
At the same time, prices are very democratic. Of course, the cheapest street food and products of small eateries in the markets, because this is an analogue of our canteens and other catering. Good offers mashashi or makashnitsa - trolleys with food or boats, they sell snacks, freshies and smoothies. You can imagine yourself as a European hipster.
On the contrary, in the capital and in the best resorts of Pattaya, prices are unreasonably high (not as high as in Russian restaurants of medium hand, but locals are convinced: this is simply indecent).
Tom Yam | Tom Yum
This is the main signature dish of Thai cuisine, its business card. The soup combines five main flavors at once - sour, sweet, bitter, spicy and salty. Broth is made on the basis of lime, galanga (an analogue of ginger) and lemongrass (grass that causes delight in cats), often boiled in coconut milk. Due to the spices, a refreshing taste is obtained, not similar to Russian soups.
The best option for the first acquaintance will be the classic Tom Yam Kang - a version with shrimp (a similar soup with chicken will be called Guy). A version of weak sharpness, strong your taste buds will not survive unaccustomed. Don't worry and the weak one will be sharp.
Rice is often served as a side dish. We do not advise you to refuse: this is a wonderful way to level the sharpness of the dish. To prepare this miracle at home, you can stock up on ingredients in local chain stores before leaving: both ready-made sets and individual components are sold. Dried lemongrass and lime juice can be taken exactly: they are an order of magnitude better than anything that is sold in this sense in Europe, not to mention Russia.
Pad Thai | Pad Thai
Another feature of Ty, equally available from street carts and in the menu of the coolest restaurants in Phuket. This is rice noodles, fried in a special sauce of eggs, soy sprouts, tofu cheese and seafood, often shrimp.
Ingredients can be obtained in the simplest supermarkets such as "Fairy March" or "7-11" (local "Dixie" and "Pyaterochka"): noodles are noodles, there can be no surprises.
Mango sticky rice | Mango sticky rice
A sweet food for visiting vegans that is built around sweet sticky rice. It is prepared by boiling coconut milk, and served with tender ripe mango, washed down with sugar-free tea or herbal drinks. Most often sold in the markets as a street snack.
On the other hand, in the restaurant you can look at the "sticks" from an unusual side - there they are served decorated in different colors, with decorations made of palm leaves.
Som Tam | Som Tam
Another vegetarian's sweet, in addition to the salad, and stunningly spicy! In the composition - green papaya, beans pods, tomatoes and peanuts; the sauce is made from chili, lime and garlic.
It is better to snack on rice or fried noodles to preserve the impressions and not lose the tongue and esophagus. Green papaya, by the way, can be bought in the store or in the market - to please family or friends with original taste. But you will need to hurry up - papaya is not stored.
Massaman Curry | Massaman curry
Dislike of spicy dishes does not close the way to tasting Thai joys. For example, take a massaman curry. This is the most delicate chicken or beef fillet in a sauce with spices made from coconut milk, spices, potatoes, cashew nuts and peanuts. If the cow or chicken is pathetic, there are versions with tofu.
The taste is sweet and sour. The meat is very saty and melts in the mouth. Served with rice. It's funny - in the ranking of the most delicious dishes on the planet according to CNN, this Thai dish twice occupied the first line and has been in the top 50 for ten years!
At home, you can grab a jar of pasta - it is not difficult to find it in large supermarkets like "Big C" or "Tesco". Sold in glass and tetra-pack packages.
Thai curry | Thai Curry
If you find yourself in Tai, try a traffic light called red, yellow and green curry. The dish is made from chicken, cattle meat or tofu, then stewed in coconut milk, spices and sauce of fish or shrimp. And curry paste is made by hand, grinding spices in a mortar and mixing with the main components.
From the previous curry differs lemongrass shades, fish spirit and a huge number of vegetables. Curries differ in sharpness: the least sharp is red, green is its complete antithesis. It is recommended to try with boiled rice or roti pancakes. Ready-made mixtures are sold in jars in the form of paste or bags - the powder is easier and more convenient to store.
Tom Ka | Tom Kha
Abroad it is called Thai coconut soup. And really, it's made of coconut, or rather milk. Chicken, mushrooms, lime juice and greens go to the cauldron - then it will be Tom Kha Kai. And if with shrimp - then Ka Kung. Eat with rice, just for saty.
Traditionally, in local stores you can buy a soup set or stock up on "components", for example- lemongrass.
Khau Phat | Khao Pad
Fried rice, as it is called by foreigners. Street food of economy class. Not bad, especially with numerous sauces or variations on the theme of shrimp, poultry, cow or pig meat, with pineapples or other tropical fruits. The basis is always spices, shrimp paste and chopped testicle.
Not sharp. On the street or the market is served in a tray or container, and in restaurants and similar places - more often in half a pineapple fruit: tasty and beautiful.
Yam Whun Sen | Yum Woon Sen
Tourists like it, locals - even more so. Glass noodle salad with vegetables, peanuts or cashew nuts and dressing in the form of spicy fish sauce, but the main ingredient is minced meat, shrimp or other seafood. It tastes sweet, with a sharp sourness, and even in the version of little spicy knocks out tears and snot.
Like all other Thai recipes, it is easily reproduced "at home": fish sauce and peppers are better to buy here, in the store or at the market, and take noodles at home, like nuts.
Spring rolls | Thai Spring Roll
The popular pan-Asian dish in Thailand is quite special. This is a classic street kitchen with a recipe that is not standard for the countries of Southeast Asia: mushrooms, rice noodles and carrots, wrapped in rice cakes and fried in oil.
Often served with chili, although the rolls themselves are not spicy. There are different fillings, for example - with shrimp, chicken, or sweet - with banana or papaya.
Walked and chewed
If we talk about gastrotourism, Thailand is ideal for the first attempt. You can explore the country as part of an excursion group or independently. There are a number of popular tours.
Capital
If your way to the sea lies through the capital of the country, it seems reasonable to take a couple of excursions here and walk through souvenir shops, shopping centers and shops - in short, go shopping.
Here and will be very useful acquaintance with street food, because shopping takes a lot of time and squeezes like a rag.
Phuket
Tours are conducted by the best guides - just an ordinary guide here can not cope. You will be told all the secrets, and at the same time show where to find the most delicious dishes. Most often, moving and accommodation, as well as numerous tasting activities are included in the program.
