Easy Thai Food Recipes
World Cuisines

Easy Thai Food Recipes

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Thai cuisine is beloved worldwide for its bold flavors, fresh ingredients, and balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy tastes. The good news? You don’t need to be a master chef to recreate some of Thailand’s most delicious dishes at home. Whether you’re new to Thai cooking or just looking for quick and easy recipes, this guide has you covered.

In this article, we’ll explore a selection of easy Thai recipes that anyone can make, covering appetizers, main dishes, and even desserts. Let’s get started on this culinary journey!

Essential Ingredients in Thai Cooking

Before diving into the recipes, it’s good to familiarize yourself with some essential ingredients commonly used in Thai cuisine:

  • Fish Sauce (Nam Pla) – A salty, umami-rich sauce that adds depth to many Thai dishes.
  • Soy Sauce & Oyster Sauce – Used for seasoning and stir-frying.
  • Lime & Lemongrass – Adds a fresh citrusy aroma to soups and curries.
  • Galangal & Ginger – Commonly used in soups and curries for a warming flavor.
  • Coconut Milk – A staple in Thai curries and desserts, adding a rich and creamy texture.
  • Thai Chili Peppers – Brings the signature heat to many dishes.
  • Fresh Herbs – Cilantro, Thai basil, and kaffir lime leaves give Thai food its distinctive fragrance.
  • Palm Sugar – Used to balance flavors with a hint of sweetness.

Appetizers

1. Thai Spring Rolls (Por Pia Tod)

These crispy spring rolls are packed with vegetables and served with a tangy dipping sauce.

Ingredients:

  • 10 spring roll wrappers
  • 1 cup shredded cabbage
  • ½ cup grated carrots
  • ½ cup bean sprouts
  • ½ cup ground chicken or tofu
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon white pepper
  • Oil for frying

Instructions:

  1. Heat oil in a pan and sauté garlic until fragrant. Add chicken or tofu and cook until done.
  2. Stir in cabbage, carrots, and bean sprouts. Season with soy sauce, sugar, and white pepper.
  3. Allow the mixture to cool before wrapping it in spring roll wrappers.
  4. Heat oil in a frying pan and deep-fry until golden brown.
  5. Serve with sweet chili sauce.

2. Thai Papaya Salad (Som Tam)

A refreshing and spicy salad that’s easy to make and bursting with flavors.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups shredded green papaya
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 Thai chili, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon palm sugar
  • 6 cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 tablespoons crushed peanuts

Instructions:

  1. In a mortar and pestle, crush the garlic and chili together.
  2. Add fish sauce, lime juice, and palm sugar. Mix well.
  3. Add shredded papaya and cherry tomatoes. Toss well.
  4. Garnish with crushed peanuts and serve immediately.

Main Dishes

3. Pad Thai (Thai Stir-Fried Noodles)

One of Thailand’s most famous dishes, Pad Thai is a delicious combination of rice noodles, eggs, tofu or shrimp, and a tangy sauce.

Ingredients:

  • 200g rice noodles
  • 200g shrimp or tofu
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon tamarind paste
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup bean sprouts
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons crushed peanuts
  • Lime wedges for serving

Instructions:

  1. Soak rice noodles in warm water for 10-15 minutes until soft. Drain and set aside.
  2. Heat oil in a pan, add garlic, and stir-fry shrimp or tofu until cooked.
  3. Push everything to one side of the pan, crack in the eggs, and scramble.
  4. Add the noodles, followed by fish sauce, tamarind paste, and sugar. Stir well.
  5. Add bean sprouts and green onions, mixing everything together.
  6. Serve hot, garnished with crushed peanuts and lime wedges.

4. Thai Green Curry (Gaeng Keow Wan)

A fragrant and mildly spicy curry with tender chicken, vegetables, and creamy coconut milk.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons green curry paste
  • 250g chicken breast, sliced
  • 1 cup eggplant, chopped
  • ½ cup bamboo shoots
  • 3 kaffir lime leaves
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½ cup Thai basil leaves

Instructions:

  1. Heat 1 cup of coconut milk in a pan. Add the green curry paste and stir until fragrant.
  2. Add the chicken and cook for a few minutes until it turns white.
  3. Pour in the remaining coconut milk, followed by eggplant and bamboo shoots.
  4. Add fish sauce, sugar, and kaffir lime leaves. Simmer for 10 minutes.
  5. Stir in Thai basil leaves and serve hot with steamed rice.

5. Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Krapow Gai)

This is a simple, quick, and spicy stir-fry that is a staple of Thai street food.

Ingredients:

  • 250g ground chicken
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Thai chili, chopped
  • ½ cup Thai basil leaves

Instructions:

  1. Heat oil in a pan, add garlic and chili, and stir-fry for 30 seconds.
  2. Add ground chicken and cook until browned.
  3. Stir in soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar. Cook for another 2 minutes.
  4. Add Thai basil leaves and stir for 30 seconds before removing from heat.
  5. Serve hot with jasmine rice and a fried egg on top.

Desserts

6. Mango Sticky Rice (Khao Niew Mamuang)

A classic Thai dessert made with sweet coconut sticky rice and ripe mango.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup sticky rice
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ripe mango, sliced
  • Sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions:

  1. Rinse the sticky rice and soak it in water for at least 2 hours. Drain and steam until tender.
  2. Heat coconut milk in a saucepan, adding sugar and salt. Stir until dissolved.
  3. Mix the cooked rice with the coconut milk mixture and let it sit for 10 minutes.
  4. Serve with sliced mango and garnish with sesame seeds.

Thai food is all about balancing flavors and using fresh ingredients. With these easy recipes, you can bring the taste of Thailand into your home without needing to spend hours in the kitchen. Whether it’s a quick stir-fry, a comforting curry, or a refreshing salad, these dishes are simple, flavorful, and satisfying.

So, grab your ingredients, start cooking, and enjoy a delicious homemade Thai meal! 🍜🇹🇭

More Delicious & Easy Thai Recipes

If you’re enjoying your journey into Thai cooking, there are plenty more simple and delicious dishes to try. Below are a few more easy Thai recipes, from comforting soups to unique Thai drinks.

More Main Dishes

7. Thai Garlic Pepper Chicken (Gai Tod Gratiem Prik Thai)

A simple yet flavorful dish with crispy chicken coated in garlic and black pepper.

Ingredients:

  • 250g chicken breast, sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 tablespoons oil

Instructions:

  1. Heat oil in a pan and sauté the garlic until golden brown.
  2. Add chicken and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
  3. Season with soy sauce, oyster sauce, black pepper, and sugar. Stir well.
  4. Cook until the chicken is golden and crispy.
  5. Serve hot with jasmine rice and a side of fresh cucumber.

8. Thai Pineapple Fried Rice (Khao Pad Sapparod)

A sweet and savory fried rice dish with tropical flavors.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups cooked jasmine rice
  • ½ cup diced pineapple
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup shrimp or chicken
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • ¼ cup cashew nuts

Instructions:

  1. Heat oil in a pan, add garlic, and stir-fry shrimp or chicken until cooked.
  2. Push to the side and scramble the egg. Mix everything together.
  3. Add cooked rice, pineapple, soy sauce, and curry powder. Stir well.
  4. Toss in green onions and cashew nuts, stirring for another minute.
  5. Serve hot, garnished with extra pineapple or cashews.

9. Thai Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao)

A spicy stir-fried noodle dish packed with bold flavors.

Ingredients:

  • 200g wide rice noodles
  • 200g chicken, beef, or tofu
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Thai chili, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½ cup Thai basil leaves
  • ½ cup bell peppers, sliced

Instructions:

  1. Cook rice noodles according to package instructions, then drain.
  2. Heat oil in a pan, add garlic and chili, and stir-fry for a few seconds.
  3. Add chicken or tofu and cook until browned.
  4. Stir in bell peppers, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar.
  5. Add noodles and Thai basil, mixing everything well.
  6. Serve hot with lime wedges.

Soups & Sides

10. Thai Coconut Soup (Tom Kha Gai)

A creamy coconut-based soup with a mild, tangy flavor.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups coconut milk
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 250g chicken breast, sliced
  • 2 kaffir lime leaves
  • 1 stalk lemongrass, sliced
  • 1-inch piece of galangal (or ginger), sliced
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 6 mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 Thai chili, chopped

Instructions:

  1. In a pot, heat coconut milk and chicken broth together.
  2. Add lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  3. Add chicken and cook until tender.
  4. Stir in fish sauce, lime juice, mushrooms, and Thai chili.
  5. Serve hot, garnished with fresh cilantro.

11. Thai Hot & Sour Soup (Tom Yum Goong)

A famous Thai soup known for its spicy, tangy, and aromatic flavors.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 200g shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 2 kaffir lime leaves
  • 1 stalk lemongrass, sliced
  • 1-inch piece of galangal (or ginger), sliced
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 Thai chili, chopped
  • ½ cup mushrooms, sliced
  • Fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions:

  1. In a pot, heat the chicken broth. Add lemongrass, galangal, and lime leaves.
  2. Simmer for 5 minutes, then add shrimp and mushrooms.
  3. Season with fish sauce, lime juice, and Thai chili.
  4. Serve hot, garnished with fresh cilantro.

Thai Desserts & Drinks

12. Thai Banana in Coconut Milk (Kluai Buat Chi)

A comforting, naturally sweet Thai dessert.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ripe bananas, sliced
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions:

  1. Heat coconut milk in a saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Add sugar and salt, stirring until dissolved.
  3. Add banana slices and simmer for 5 minutes.
  4. Serve warm.

13. Thai Iced Tea (Cha Yen)

A creamy, sweet, and refreshing Thai drink.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons Thai tea leaves
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
  • Ice cubes

Instructions:

  1. Steep Thai tea leaves in hot water for 5 minutes, then strain.
  2. Let the tea cool, then pour over ice cubes.
  3. Stir in sweetened condensed milk and enjoy!

Tips for Cooking Thai Food at Home

  1. Balance the Flavors – Thai food is all about the balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy. Taste as you cook and adjust accordingly.
  2. Use Fresh Ingredients – The fresher the herbs and spices, the better the flavor.
  3. Don’t Skip the Fish Sauce – It adds a deep umami flavor that can’t be easily replaced.
  4. Cook Fast & Hot – Thai stir-fries and noodle dishes are best cooked quickly over high heat.
  5. Experiment! – Feel free to swap proteins, vegetables, and spice levels to suit your preference.

Final Thoughts

Thai cuisine is one of the most flavorful and diverse in the world, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. With these easy Thai recipes, you can enjoy authentic Thai flavors in your own kitchen. Whether you’re making a simple stir-fry, a rich and creamy curry, or a refreshing Thai iced tea, these dishes are sure to impress!

So, grab your ingredients, start cooking, and bring the taste of Thailand to your table! 🇹🇭🍜

Let me know if you’d like even more Thai recipes or cooking tips! 😊

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