Thai Food
A Brief Introduction to Thai Food
The secrets of Thai food are extremely important and are transferred between each generation. The methods of cooking may include frying or boiling, as well as creating soups, salads, or pastes. These methods of create a variety of different flavours which is what makes Thai cooking so unique. As well as careful preparation of the food, decoration is extremely important in Thai cooking, where carved fruits and vegetables have been used for many centuries.
Thai food is not just popular in Thailand; it is eaten all around the world. Thai food is distinct from other foods for the way in which it utilises all of the major food groups in its own way. There is no one taste to expect from such food, and you will easily find sweet dishes, sour dishes and hot and spicy dishes to try. Those who are already familiar with Chinese cooking may be keen to try Thai food, and it makes use of common ingredients such as chillies, fish sauce, garlic and lime juice to give it its distinctive flavour. There are many dishes to suit everyone based on the occasion and who the food is being cooked by.
Importantly, Thai food is able to provide a balanced diet. Many dishes will contain all of the nutritional groups, including fats, vitamins and minerals, protein, fibre and carbohydrate. In general the proteins will be from the various meats used in the cooking (such as chicken, beef and pork) as well as seafood and eggs. The fat will come from oil as well as the meat. Vegetables in Thai cooking provide vitamins and minerals, and they also provide fibre which aids digestion and can help to lower cholesterol. On top of this you will probably be aware that Thai food makes great use of herbs and spices, including ginger, sweet basil, lemon grass and much more. These spices provide the unique taste as well as helping with many medical conditions, such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
As mentioned earlier, rice is extremely important in Thai cooking and different rices are used for different occasions, consisting mainly of jasmine rice or sticky rice. Alongside this, mainly fresh rather than dried foods are used in any good Thai cooking – this is what keeps it so tasty and fresh.
When eating Thai food, Thai people usually use spoons and forks. Meals will consist of many courses, starting with a hot soup served in a cup. This will be followed by a curry dish with various condiments, as well as fish and vegetables served with a dip. Alongside these dishes, many people choose to eat spicy salads to complement their meals, and the level of spice can either be mild to hot according to your tastes and the cook’s recipe. Dessert is common in Thai food, and there are many Thai sweets as well as fresh fruits.
Thai food is usually prepared to the highest degree and influenced greatly by the Buddhist religion of Thailand, and there is a Thai dish available to suit any tastes.
