Bring Thailand Into The Kitchen With These 8 Recipes

Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that was never colonized by the West, so it's had years of opportunity to refine traditional Thai cuisine. The food has been heavily influenced by Thailand's neighbors, however. From China, for example, comes the use of dumplings, soy sauce, noodles, and rice, as well as the idea of blending sweet, salty, sour, hot, and bitter flavors to make the perfect mix. We've rounded up eight tried-and-true recipes that are essential for the Thai food enthusiast. Happy cooking!

Gai Yang

This is the Thai version of whole grilled chicken, so it's definitely a recipe for the adventurous cooks out there. Try it out here.

Green Curry

The recipe for Thai green curry incorporates chicken, bamboo shoots, lime leaves, and coconut milk. Make it yourself here.

Khao Soi

Curry-based soup with noodles, with coconut milk, chiles, garlic cloves, and chicken or beef? Count us in. This dish is a favorite in northern Thailand. See the recipe.

Laap

This dish is very popular in northeastern Thailand, where it's usually served with sticky rice and papaya salad. Ground pork, green chiles, and green onion are all included in the recipe.

Pad Thai

Stir-fried noodles, egg, tofu, shrimp, and seasoning has become one of the most popular Thai dishes of all. Make it yourself here.

Phat Kaphrao

This dish consists of fried seafood or meat combined with basil and other ingredients, include chiles, fish sauce, and lime juice. See the recipe.

Som Tam

Papaya salad is one of the most popular salads in the country. It's low in calories but tastes delicious. It's made with bean sprouts, green papaya, tomatoes, and basil. Learn to make it here.

Tom Yum Soup

This herb-heavy Thai classic incorporates lemongrass, chiles, garlic, and mushrooms, as well as lime juice and fish sauce. Check out the recipe here.