Looking for the best Thai recipes ? This list has you covered ! I’ve compiled a list of 24 Thai recipes ranging from spicy curries and flavorful stir-fries to creamy desserts, so you have everything from first course to dessert. Let’s dive into the world of Thai cuisine and experience the unique blend of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy that Thai food is renowned for.
1. Tom Kha Gai (Coconut Chicken Soup)
A Rich, Fragrant Soup
This classic Thai dish, Tom Kha Gai, is a creamy, fragrant soup featuring tender chicken, rich coconut milk, and a punch of spice from chili and lime. With an aromatic lemongrass and galangal base, this soup is bound to awaken your senses.
An Ideal Starter
Begin your Thai feast with this soothing yet tantalizing soup. It sets the stage for a delightful culinary journey, offering a harmonious balance of salty, spicy, sour, and sweet flavors that Thai cuisine is known for.
Customize Your Soup
Feel free to adjust the heat level by using more or less chili. Swap chicken with shrimp or tofu for a different protein choice. Experiment with other vegetables to enrich the soup’s texture and nutrient content.
2. Pad Thai (Stir-Fried Noodles)
A Classic Thai Dish
Pad Thai is a beloved dish worldwide, known for its perfect balance of flavors and textures. It combines stir-fried rice noodles, shrimp or chicken, tofu, eggs, and crunchy peanuts in a tangy, sweet, and savory sauce.
A Quick and Delicious Meal
This dish is an excellent choice when you crave a fast yet flavorful meal. It comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for a busy weeknight.
Make it Your Own
Play around with different proteins and vegetables to make the dish suit your tastes. You can even adjust the tamarind-to-sugar ratio in the sauce for a more sweet or tangy version.
3. Green Curry with Chicken
A Fragrant and Spicy Delight
Green Curry with Chicken is a classic Thai dish, known for its vibrant color, fragrant aroma, and delightful spice. This dish features succulent chicken simmered in a robust coconut milk-based curry infused with fresh green chilies, lemongrass, and Thai basil.
Satisfy Your Craving for Spice
This dish is ideal for those who love a good kick of heat in their meals. Pair it with jasmine rice to balance out the spiciness and enhance the overall dining experience.
Adapt to Your Preferences
Customize this curry by choosing your preferred level of heat and selecting your favorite vegetables. For a vegetarian alternative, replace the chicken with tofu or a variety of veggies.
4. Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad)
A Refreshing, Tangy Salad
Som Tum is a refreshing Thai salad made from shredded unripe papaya, chilies, garlic, lime, fish sauce, and cherry tomatoes. This dish offers a delightful mix of sour, sweet, and spicy flavors.
A Healthy Choice
Light and low in calories, this salad is a nutritious choice. It’s packed with vitamins and fiber, perfect for a healthy meal or side dish.
Customize Your Salad
Feel free to add other vegetables, swap fish sauce with soy sauce for a vegan version, or adjust the spice level to suit your preferences.
5. Massaman Curry
A Flavorful Fusion Dish
Massaman Curry is a rich, mildly spicy Thai dish with Persian influences. It combines chicken or beef with potatoes and onions in a unique sauce featuring coconut milk, peanuts, and a blend of fragrant spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and star anise.
Perfect for Those Who Prefer Mild Curries
This curry is ideal if you prefer your dishes less spicy but still full of flavor. The comforting, hearty ingredients make it a wonderful main dish, especially when served with jasmine rice.
Easily Adaptable
You can adjust this curry to your liking by adding different vegetables, using various proteins, or tweaking the spice levels.
6. Pad Kra Pao (Thai Basil Chicken)
A Quick, Savory Dish
Pad Kra Pao, or Thai Basil Chicken, is a savory stir-fry dish known for its bold, vibrant flavors. It combines minced chicken with Thai holy basil, chilies, and a savory sauce, making for a quick yet delightful meal.
Ideal for Busy Weeknights
This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you want a delicious, home-cooked meal without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s ready in just 20 minutes!
Customizable to Your Taste
Feel free to adjust the spice level or swap the chicken for tofu or another protein of your choice. You can also use different types of basil to experiment with flavor profiles.
7. Khao Soi (Northern Thai Coconut Curry Noodle Soup)
A Unique Thai Curry
Khao Soi is a Northern Thai specialty that consists of a creamy, spicy coconut curry broth, tender boiled noodles, and crispy deep-fried noodles on top for an exciting texture contrast. It usually features chicken or beef.
Read also: 30 Asian Side Dishes
Comfort Food at Its Best
This soup is ideal for those chilly nights when you crave a bowl of warm, comforting, and spicy soup. The complex flavors and contrasting textures are sure to delight your taste buds.
Make It Your Own
Customize this dish by choosing your preferred protein, adjusting the spice level, or adding various toppings like pickled mustard greens or shallots.
8. Pad See Ew (Stir-Fried Noodles with Soy Sauce)
A Popular Stir-Fry Dish
Pad See Ew, a Thai stir-fried noodle dish, combines wide rice noodles, chicken or tofu, Chinese broccoli, and a savory soy sauce blend. The result is a comforting, flavorful dish loved by adults and kids alike.
Perfect for a Quick Meal
It’s an excellent choice for a quick, simple meal that doesn’t compromise on flavor. You can have this delicious dish ready in less than 30 minutes!
Adapt to Your Preferences
You can swap the protein, use different vegetables, or adjust the seasoning to make this dish your own.
9. Kai Pad Med Mamuang (Chicken with Cashews)
A Nutty Delight
This Thai dish offers a delightful balance of textures and flavors with its combination of tender chicken, crunchy cashews, and colorful vegetables stir-fried in a sweet and savory sauce. It’s a must-try for nut lovers.
Great for a Family Meal
Kai Med Ma Muang is an excellent choice for a family dinner. Its mild flavor profile and appealing ingredients make it a hit with both kids and adults.
Customize Your Dish
Feel free to replace chicken with tofu or other proteins. You can also add more vegetables or adjust the sauce’s sweetness to suit your taste.
10. Thai Spring Rolls
A Crispy, Flavorful Appetizer
Thai Spring Rolls are delightful appetizers, featuring a crispy exterior filled with a savory mixture of vermicelli, vegetables, and often shrimp or chicken. Served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce, they’re a crowd-pleaser.
Perfect Party Food
These spring rolls are perfect for parties or as a starter for your Thai feast. They’re bite-sized, easy to eat, and full of delicious flavors.
Make it Your Own
Experiment with different fillings, like tofu, different types of meat, or a variety of vegetables. You can even adjust the dip to match your taste preference.
11. Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup)
A Tangy, Spicy Soup
Tom Yum Goong is a famous Thai hot and sour soup, known for its distinct herbaceous flavors. It combines shrimp with mushrooms, tomatoes, lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves, creating a burst of flavors in each spoonful.
Ideal Starter
Kickstart your Thai meal with this soup. It’s bright, refreshing, and packs a spicy punch that will stimulate your appetite.
Adapt to Your Preferences
Feel free to adjust the spice level to suit your taste. You can also replace shrimp with chicken or tofu for a different protein choice.
12. Thai Mango Sticky Rice
A Sweet, Tropical Dessert
Thai Mango Sticky Rice is a popular dessert featuring sweet, sticky rice flavored with a coconut milk sauce, served alongside fresh, ripe mango. This dessert is a heavenly mix of creamy, sweet, and tangy flavors.
A Perfect End to Your Meal
Enjoy this dessert as a sweet ending to your Thai feast. The light, fruity, and tropical flavors make it the perfect palate cleanser.
Customize Your Dessert
Feel free to substitute mango with other tropical fruits like durian or bananas. You can also adjust the sweetness of the coconut sauce to suit your taste.
13. Thai Red Curry
A Versatile Curry Dish
Thai Red Curry is a vibrant, spicy, and creamy curry made from red curry paste, coconut milk, meat, and a variety of vegetables. It’s a versatile dish that can be adapted to include your favorite ingredients.
Great for Spice Lovers
If you love spicy food, this dish is perfect for you. Its rich flavors, paired with a nice heat kick, make it an exciting addition to your dinner menu.
Customize to Your Preference
You can adjust the ingredients, choosing from different proteins like chicken, beef, or tofu, and a range of vegetables to suit your tastes and dietary needs.
14. Thai Peanut Sauce
A Versatile Condiment
Thai Peanut Sauce is a delicious condiment that pairs well with a variety of dishes. Made with peanut butter, coconut milk, and Thai red curry paste, it’s sweet, salty, spicy, and creamy all at once.
Perfect for Dipping and Drizzling
You can use this sauce as a dip for spring rolls, a drizzle over salads, or as a sauce for noodles. It’s a quick way to add Thai flavors to your dishes.
Make It Your Own
Customize the sauce by adjusting the sweetness, saltiness, or spiciness to match your preferences.
15. Thai Fried Rice
A Hearty, Flavorful Dish
Thai Fried Rice is a satisfying meal that combines stir-fried rice with vegetables, protein, and a tasty seasoning blend. It’s often served with a fresh lime wedge and cucumber slices for added freshness.
Quick and Easy Meal
This dish is perfect for a quick, easy meal, especially when you have leftover rice. It’s a great way to use up leftover ingredients while creating a flavorful dish.
Adaptable Recipe
Feel free to use your favorite protein, add different vegetables, or adjust the seasoning to suit your taste.
16. Thai Iced Tea
A Sweet, Creamy Beverage
Thai Iced Tea is a sweet, creamy, and refreshing drink that is a staple in Thai cuisine. Made with strong black tea, sugar, and condensed milk, it’s a perfect drink to cool down with on a hot day.
Ideal for Tea Lovers
If you love tea, this Thai version will take your tea experience to the next level. Its unique flavor and creamy sweetness make it a favorite among many.
Customize Your Drink
Adjust the sweetness level according to your preference or try it with coconut milk for a dairy-free alternative.
17. Khao Soi (Northern Thai Coconut Curry Noodle Soup)
A Creamy, Comforting Soup
Khao Soi is a Northern Thai dish featuring a creamy, spicy coconut curry soup with egg noodles and topped with crispy fried noodles. It’s a comforting and flavorful dish that’s perfect for a chilly day.
Great for a Hearty Meal
This noodle soup is a meal in itself. It’s filling, satisfying, and packed with a delightful mix of flavors and textures.
Adjust to Your Liking
Customize your Khao Soi by adjusting the spiciness, adding your favorite protein, or topping it with additional garnishes like pickled mustard greens or shallots.
18. Moo Ping (Thai Grilled Pork Skewers)
A Savory, Grilled Delight
Moo Ping is a popular Thai street food featuring marinated, grilled pork skewers that are usually served with sticky rice. The marinade is sweet and savory, resulting in a flavorful, succulent piece of meat.
Perfect for Barbecues
These pork skewers are a perfect addition to any barbecue or outdoor gathering. They’re easy to handle and universally loved for their delicious flavor.
Make It Your Own
Experiment with the marinade to suit your taste. You can adjust the sweetness or saltiness, or add a spicy kick with some chili.
19. Thai Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao)
A Spicy, Stir-fried Noodle Dish
Pad Kee Mao, or Thai Drunken Noodles, is a spicy stir-fried noodle dish made with wide rice noodles, a mix of meats, seafood, and plenty of fresh basil. Despite its name, the dish doesn’t contain alcohol but is a popular late-night meal.
Ideal for Spice Lovers
If you’re a fan of spicy food, this dish is a must-try. The fiery heat paired with the savory sauce and aromatic herbs make for an exciting meal.
Customizable Recipe
Adjust the heat level according to your taste or experiment with different proteins or vegetables.
20. Thai Banana Pancake (Roti Gluay)
A Sweet, Crispy Treat
Thai Banana Pancake, or Roti Gluay, is a sweet and crispy dessert that’s a favorite street food in Thailand. It features a flaky roti filled with ripe bananas, fried until crispy, and then topped with condensed milk and sugar.
Read also: 24 Leftover Spaghetti Recipes
Perfect for Dessert Lovers
If you’re a fan of sweet treats, this Thai dessert is a must-try. It’s a delightful combination of textures and flavors that will satisfy your sweet tooth.
Make It Your Own
You can customize your pancake by adding other ingredients like chocolate, Nutella, or even a sprinkle of cinnamon.
21. Thai Shrimp Cake (Tod Mun Goong)
A Crispy, Savory Snack
Tod Mun Goong, or Thai Shrimp Cakes, are a delicious snack or appetizer that feature a savory mix of shrimp, red curry paste, and kaffir lime leaves, fried until crispy.
Great for Parties
These shrimp cakes are a hit at parties and gatherings. Serve them with a sweet chili sauce for an extra flavor kick.
Versatile Recipe
Feel free to adjust the recipe to your liking. You can replace the shrimp with fish, add extra vegetables, or adjust the spiciness.
22. Thai Chicken Satay
A Savory, Grilled Delight
Thai Chicken Satay is a popular dish consisting of marinated, grilled chicken skewers served with a rich peanut sauce. It’s a satisfying dish known for its robust flavors.
Ideal for Barbecues
This dish is a wonderful addition to any barbecue or picnic. The flavorful chicken paired with the creamy peanut sauce is a combination that’s hard to resist.
Customizable Recipe
You can swap the chicken for other meats, adjust the marinade ingredients, or experiment with the peanut sauce to make it your own.
23. Thai Pineapple Fried Rice (Khao Pad Sapparot)
A Sweet and Savory Meal
Khao Pad Sapparot, or Thai Pineapple Fried Rice, is a sweet and savory dish that features rice stir-fried with pineapple, raisins, cashews, and a mix of vegetables and protein.
Perfect for a Quick Lunch
This colorful, flavorful fried rice is a great option for a quick lunch or dinner. It’s a delightful combination of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors.
Customize to Your Preference
Feel free to adjust the recipe to your preference. Try it with different proteins, add more or less pineapple, or experiment with other types of nuts.
24. Thai Pumpkin Custard (Sangkaya Fakthong)
A Unique, Creamy Dessert
Sangkaya Fakthong, or Thai Pumpkin Custard, is a unique dessert that involves steaming a sweet coconut milk custard inside a hollowed-out pumpkin. It’s a dessert that’s as impressive in presentation as it is in taste.
Perfect for Special Occasions
This pumpkin custard is an ideal dessert for special occasions or when you’re looking to impress your guests. Its unusual presentation makes it a showstopper.
Experiment with Different Squashes
You can try making this dessert with different types of squashes or pumpkins to see how the flavors change.
Conclusion
And there you have it – 24 Thai recipes that cover a wide range of flavors and dishes, each bringing a piece of Thailand into your home. Whether you’re new to Thai cuisine or a seasoned enthusiast, this list offers something for everyone. Remember, part of the joy of cooking is making each dish your own, so don’t be afraid to experiment with these recipes and tweak them to your taste. Happy cooking and enjoy the delightful culinary journey through Thailand!
