Are tomatoes used in Thai cooking
Daniel Johnson
Published Apr 07, 2026
Many Thais refer to them as ‘makhua som’ , which roughly means sour tomato. The sour flavor complements the Thai foods they’re used in. You can easily substitute regular cherry tomatoes for the Thai ones in our Thai food recipes that call for them.
What vegetables are used in Thai cooking?
Use vegetables that you will commonly find in Thai dishes, like shallots, onions, broccoli, bamboo shoots, bell peppers, pok choi, eggplant, bean sprouts, carrot, cabbage, or kale.
What does Thai food contain?
Thai food is known for its enthusiastic use of fresh (rather than dried) herbs and spices. Common flavors in Thai food come from garlic, galangal, coriander/cilantro, lemon grass, shallots, pepper, kaffir lime leaves, shrimp paste, fish sauce, and chilies.
What ingredients are used in Thai cooking?
- Allium Vegetables. Allium vegetables like shallots, onions, scallions, and garlic frequently appear in Thai dishes and are often the star of the show. …
- Coconut Milk. …
- Chiles. …
- Fish Sauce. …
- Fresh Herbs.
What are the white vegetables in Thai food?
Even if it doesn’t have as high a profile as cabbage or Chinese broccoli, no discussion of the vegetables used in Thai kitchens is complete without mention of the long, white root vegetable known in Thai as <i>hua pakad</i> or <i>hua chai thao</i>.
What herbs are used in Thai cooking?
- Cinnamon (Ob-choey) Everybody knows cinnamon, as it’s one of the most popular spices in the world. …
- Coriander Root (Rak-pak-chee) …
- Coriander Seeds (Look-pak-chee) …
- Cumin (Yee-rah) …
- Ginger (Khing) …
- Garlic (Kra-tiam) …
- Green Peppercorns (Prik-thai-orn) …
- Holy Basil (Bai ka-prow)
Is cilantro used in Thai cooking?
While many other cuisines use only the leaves, Thais also use the fragrant, flavorful roots, stems and seeds (coriander) in seasoning pastes and other dishes. In fact, cilantro is a staple of Thai cuisine.
What does Thai basil go with?
Try Thai basil in simmered dishes like Taiwanese braised eggplant and green curry as well as high-heat stir-fries such as Thai basil chicken and Thai tofu (traditionally made with holy basil, but great with Thai basil, too).Is soy sauce used in Thai cooking?
Light Soy Sauce (or Thin Soy Sauce) – This is the most common soy sauce used in Thai cooking. … Sweet Dark Soy Sauce – Thick, rich and with a slightly smoky flavor, this is a must-have in several well-loved Thai dishes, including Pad See Ew and Thai Cashew Chicken.
What gives Thai food its flavor?There are some key ingredients that give Thai food it’s distinctive aroma, depth and layers of flavour. Lemongrass, galangal, lime (rind and leaves), coriander leaves, sweet Thai basil leaves and garlic are used in one way or another is all Thai dishes.
Article first time published onIs Thai curry unhealthy?
Thai curries are usually made with a hefty dose of coconut milk, and that won’t do your diet any favors. One cup of the creamy milk packs in 400 calories. It also has 36 grams of saturated fat — more than three times the recommended daily amount. For a healthier dish, order the grilled or barbecued curry chicken.
What is the healthiest Thai dish?
- Steamed fish. Steamed fish dishes are one of the healthiest Thai options. …
- Larb Gai salad. …
- Papaya salad. …
- Chicken satay skewers. …
- Tofu green curry with extra vegetables. …
- Thai Beef salad. …
- Rice paper rolls. …
- Tom Yum soup.
Why are there peanuts in Thai food?
It is unknown when peanuts became a part of the Thai food system, but it is believed that foreigners brought peanuts into Thailand about 400 years ago.
Is celery used in Thai cooking?
What is Thai celery? Thai celery is much smaller, thinner and more leafy than European celery. The strong flavored celery is used in soups and sautes as well as a garnish.
Is fennel used in Thai cooking?
Fennel seeds are not terribly common in most Thai dishes but is used is several southern Thai Muslim curries and in some Phuket style dishes. This is a great spice that is much underused in traditional widespread Thai dishes.
What beans are used in Thai cooking?
Black Beans are a common legume in Thailand. We use black beans strictly for desserts and snacks. Unlike other legumes, such as peanuts, they are never put into savory dishes. The beans are soaked overnight prior to cooking to reduce the cooking time and give smooth creamy texture.
Does Thai use garlic?
Garlic (ka-tiem) Garlic is highly prized in Thai cooking for its subtle peppery flavor. It’s typically added to salt, and it’s often used in pounded spice pastes because it helps break down other ingredients and enhances other flavors.
What kind of mint is used in Thai cooking?
Thai Mint. This fragrant plant, called saranae in Thailand, is the most deliciously sweet and intense member of the mint family. The leaves are hairless, with a smaller, more rounded shape than common mint.
Does coriander go in Thai?
Thai cuisine uses both the stems and leaves of coriander for seasoning. They have an intense, deep flavor that makes soups, sauces, and curry pastes refreshing. … Authentic Thai cuisine also uses coriander seeds that have a citrus, nutty, lemony flavor.
Which basil is used in Thai cooking?
Thai basil, or sweet basil, is a type of basil native to Southeast Asia that is used widely throughout Thai cuisine. It has a distinctive anise taste profile and restaurants often serve fresh bunches of it alongside noodle dishes or salads.
What leaf is used in Thai cooking?
Makrut Lime Leaf is used in nearly every curry or soup in Thai cuisine. Basil is popular in Thai cooking because of its slightly sweet flavor.
Is Dill used in Thai cooking?
Fresh dill is used mainly in certain soups and in curries from north-eastern Thailand which do not contain coconut milk. It literally means “coriander from Laos” in Thai. The Persicaria odorata is used sparingly in Thai cuisine.
What is in Golden Mountain sauce?
Golden Mountain is an extremely popular Thai seasoning sauce made of fermented soybeans, salt, sugar and *flavor enhancers (not MSG). … This soya bean sauce is smooth and mild making it an excellent addition to stir fry vegetables, meats, tofu and noodle dishes.
What is Thai dark sauce?
Dark soy (in Thai, siu-dahm) is opaque, black, and viscous. The most prominent characteristic is the dark color and the taste of palm sugar molasses (when the sweetness is removed from palm sugar, the remaining molasses is added to this soy sauce to create a very unique, wonderful flavor).
What is the spice in Thai food?
Common spices in Thai food Many of Thailand’s most popular dishes contain one, if not several ingredients that make them spicy. This stinging, tingling sensation is most often caused by a combination of chili peppers, ginger, garlic, and peppercorn. Chili peppers are popular around the world.
What is the difference between holy basil and Thai basil?
The main difference between Thai basil and holy basil is their flavor. Thai basil has a sweet, anise quality whereas holy basil is found to be spicy and peppery.
What is Thai basil called?
Thai basil may sometimes be called chi neang vorng, anise basil or licorice basil, in reference to its anise- and licorice-like scent and taste, but it is different from the Western strains bearing these same names.
Can I use Thai basil instead of Italian basil?
You can do the same recipes as basil, either mixing the two (they go very well together IMO) or using just Thai. The result will not be the same, as of course Thai has a different flavor, but interesting nonetheless.
What are the 5 tastes they try to hit in Thai cooking to give your taste buds a rich experience?
Sweet (too many sweet things to mention), 2. Salt (often from fish sauce), 3. Savory (as in meats & cheese), 4. Umami (similar to savory but tangy at the same time – like marmite or vegemite on toast), 5.
What is the most popular food in Thailand?
- 1 Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup)
- 2 Som Tum (Spicy Green Papaya Salad)
- 3 Tom Kha Kai (Chicken in Coconut Soup)
- 4 Gaeng Daeng (Red Curry)
- 5 Pad Thai (Thai style Fried Noodles)
- 6 Khao Pad (Fried Rice) …
- 7 Pad Krapow Moo Saap (Fried Basil and Pork)
What are the Flavours in Thai cooking?
- SALTY: fish sauce, shrimp paste.
- SPICY: chillies, pepper.
- SOUR: lime, tamarind.
- SWEET: palm sugar, fruits.
- Every dish in Thai cuisine incorporates at least two of these – sometimes all four. One flavour may be dominant, but the others will be there too, like notes in a chord.