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If you visit Thailand, one thing that is sure to impress you is the country’s rich food culture. This Asian country is known, the world over, for its mouthwatering, spicy, and nutrient-packed foods that are sure to impress your taste buds, satisfy your hunger, and replenish your body with a wide variety of nutrients that are relatively vital to your health.
You can get the recipes for these dishes online with Home Chef or Hello Fresh and make your own dishes after the trip. Having said that, this insightful comparison and review of two great services are worth checking. You can source your ingredients from a meal delivery service that is reliable. From the yummy Laab Jay and Tao hoo song Kreung delicacies for vegans to the tasteful grilled jumbo prawns in tamarind sauce and kai yang for seafood lovers and chicken aficionados respectively, the list of mouthwatering dishes you can indulge in while visiting Thailand is pretty much endless.
Having said that, here is what to eat as a tourist who is visiting this Asian country, which has an amazing food culture:
1. For Vegans
i. Larb Jay (Vegan Larb)
If you are a die-hard fan of the vegetarian diet, the meal you should order first when you arrive in Thailand is larb jay, which is also known as “vegan larb.” Comprising fresh, flavorful lettuce wraps, this melt-in-your-mouth Thai vegetarian dish can make a wonderful appetizer or even main course.
Source: veganeasy.org
ii. Tao Hoo Song Kreung (Mixed Tofu)
Relatively popular among vegetarians in Thailand, tao hoo song kreung, which translates as “a dressed up tofu” in English, is a mouthwatering, flavor-rich vegan dish consisting of tofu, which is dressed up with a variety of vegetables and spices. Filling and abundant with nutritional benefits, this dish impresses taste buds, satisfies hunger, and promotes good health. It’s served in almost every decent restaurant in the town near you. Make sure to try this meal before you wind up your trip, especially if you are a vegan.
iii. Pad Phak (Stir-Fried Vegetables)
Also known as “Thai stir-fried vegetables in English, this yummy vegan dish is made using seasonal vegetables mostly indigenous to Thailand. This tasty delicacy for vegans brings out an incredible taste of broccoli florets, cauliflower florets, shallots, snow peas, and spinach leaves when combined together with some culinary creativity. Having said that, a plate of Thai stir-fried vegetables is a good way to whet your appetite, fill up yourself, and boost your health. After all, this is a very good source of a variety of vitamins and minerals, which play an important role in our health.
2. For Seafood Lovers
Honestly speaking, I can’t think of a better place to enjoy nice seafood in South East Asia than Thailand. After visiting the country last year and having a taste of different seafood dishes served in various restaurants across a few cities I was privileged to tour, I can confidently tell you that Thais never disappoint when it comes to shellfish and sea fish delicacies.
i. Grilled Jumbo Prawns in Tamarind Sauce and Kai Yang
Tasting fresh, briny, flavorful with firm flesh, grilled jumbo prawns augmented with tamarind sauce and Kai Yang is a superb seafood delicacy that fills up and boosts health. For example, it’s low in calories, carbs, and saturated fats, which are all unhealthy, but high in protein, which plays a key role in our health. Furthermore, this Thai dish perfect for seafood lovers offers heart-healthy DHA and EPA omega 3 fatty acids. It would be a regrettable act for you to leave Thailand without trying out the dish.
ii. Prawns with Red Curry and Pineapple
Locally known as “gaeng hua sapparot kap goong” prawn with red curry and pineapple is another perfect choice for seafood that should be on top of your list. This delicacy, which is very popular among the locals and tourists alike, offers more than just a super awesome taste and a filling effect as it also provides unbelievable health benefits including healthy cells and immune system.
iii. Deep-Fried Prawn Patties
Even after trying out all the mouthwatering options described above, there’s still plenty of yummy options available for you as far as your quest for luscious Thai seafood is concerned. Locally known as “thawt man goong” deep-fried prawn patties taste superb, fill completely, as well as promote good health, to say the least.
3. For Chicken Lovers
Chicken lovers are also not left behind when it comes to excellent dishes to savor while visiting Thailand. Again, I can say that I was lucky to sample a few mouth-watering Thai chicken dishes during my trip. Here are some of those dishes, which I did rate so highly;
Spicy Thigh Chicken–just as its name implies, this Thai chicken dish tastes superb, spicy, and succulent. Additionally, it’s filling, healthy and pairs well with many side dishes such as rice, pasta, and deep-fried potatoes. Furthermore, spicy thigh chicken is so popular here that you will find it in the menus of nearly every restaurant that is big on true classic Thai dishes. Apart from it, another yummy Thai chicken dish you should really try is the Thai basil chicken stir-fry, which is all about a piece(s) chicken stir-fried with Thai holy basil and served on top of rice with a fried egg on the side.
4. For Beef Aficionados
If you love beef, try Thai basil beef, which is locally known as “Pad Gra Prow.” Tasty, succulent and rich in flavor, pad gra prow is a perfect Thai beef delicacy made up of stir-fried beef and Thai basil served on top of rice. This classic Thai delicacy fills up perfectly, readily available, and most importantly promotes good health. Apart from pad gra prow, other delicious beef delicacies you should try include Thai beef stir-fry and Thai BBQ, which is in fact even sold on the streets.
Final Thoughts
In Thailand, there is always something for everyone, at least in terms of the local cuisine. Whether you are a vegetarian or non-vegetarian, meat-eater, or seafood lover, the list of options available for you here is pretty much endless. Try the dishes above and you can be confident that they will blow you away.
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