Fragrant stir-fries, zesty salads, and creamy curries are a delight for the senses. Dinner is covered with this list of 25 flavorful Thai dishes. And not just dinner. Dessert too! Thai fruit salad, coconut cake, and rolled ice-cream provide plenty of decadent, veggie-friendly options for afters. Spicy, sweet, sour, and savory – there’s so much flavor and variety in Thai cuisine. So take your tastebuds on a trip and enjoy these exotic eats.
1. Tofu Pad Thai
If you’re a Pad Thai addict you’ll love this easy recipe for recreating the takeout classic at home. On the table in just 30 minutes, this is a satisfying stir-fry made with rice noodles and firm chunks of protein-rich tofu. The tangy sauce is made from tamarind, coconut amino acids, sugar, chili, garlic, and lime. It’s just the right ratio of spicy, sweet, and tongue-tingling.
2. Thai Mango Salad with Peanut Dressing
Light and fresh, this zesty salad is a bright blend of juicy tastes. Made with butter lettuce, sweet diced mango, red bell pepper, and jalapeño, there’s goodness in every bite. Toss everything in a spicy peanut dressing, and enjoy one of the most irresistible salads you’ll ever make.
3. Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce
Satay crept into Thai cuisine thanks to its neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia – both of which have a huge influence on the country’s cuisine. The term usually describes spicy, seasoned meat cooked on a skewer over a grill. In this vegan recipe, tofu gets the satay treatment after hanging out in a soy sauce and peanut butter marinade.
4. Thai Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce
Colorful veggies are tossed in a rich, creamy sauce for this scrumptious salad. Crunchy, shredded cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, and radish give this dish a nice bite while tender noodles soak up the flavorful sauce. Top with toasted peanuts for extra nutty goodness.
5. Thai Red Curry with Vegetables
Thai curries come in traffic light flavors – red, yellow, and green. As you might suspect, red is the most fiery. It’s made with chili peppers and a hot red curry paste. You can easily tweak this recipe though if your spice tolerance isn’t up to it. Add more coconut milk for a creamier curry or just make as-is and enjoy the warming blend of heady spices and herbs.
6. Thai Coconut Rice
A delightfully different side, Thai coconut rice is sweet, sticky, fluffy, and very addictive. It’s really easy to make too. Just simmer long-grain rice in coconut milk with a dash of sugar, turmeric, and ginger. Garnish with candied ginger and sliced almonds to serve.
7. Thai Peanut Cauliflower Wings
If you’re doing a veggie Thai dinner party, these cauliflower wings will get the party started with a bang. Ridiculously addictive, you won’t believe the humble cruciferous vegetable could be this tasty. Cauliflower florets are dipped in a peanut butter curry batter and baked until golden, crispy, and crunchy. Don’t forget the agave soy dipping sauce, which gives each popcorn-like piece a sweet and tangy bite.
8. Peanut Sauce
Peanut sauce goes with everything, so it’s handy to have a quick and easy recipe around for those times you need more pep on your plate. This vegan dip is creamy and nutty, but surprisingly light. A squeeze of fresh lime cuts through the richness while ginger and chili bring a hint of spice. Eat with veggies or noodles, pour over a stir-fry or salad, this silky sauce adds something special to every meal.
9. Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
Caramelized pineapple meets Thai spices in this sweet and savory side. Bulked out with fresh bell peppers, cashews, and egg, this also works as a meal in itself. If you like more protein, add some fried tofu pieces. Want to make it vegan? Just skip the eggs. This dish stores well and tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had a chance to mingle.
10. Thai Fruit Salad
The tropical Thai climate is home to some of the most delicious exotic fruits. They’re used to full effect in this fruity and fresh salad. Banana, pineapple, lychee, star fruit, and strawberries are tossed together in a coconut and lime dressing. It’s a healthy and refreshing dessert that would also go down well at breakfast, or as a summer-time snack.
11. Spicy Thai Noodles
You’ll only need one pot for this spicy noodle dish, which means less time washing-up and more time getting a bowl in your belly. It’s also one of those recipes that lends itself to experimentation. Want less spice? Cut the sriracha. Need more protein? Add some tofu or hard-boiled egg. Going low-carb? Use zucchini ‘zoodles’ instead of rice noodles.
12. Thai Pumpkin Soup
They might enjoy a balmy, tropical climate but that doesn’t mean Thailand can’t do comfort food. This cozy, creamy pumpkin soup is the perfect mood-booster on dull, drizzly days. It’s made with rich coconut milk and flavored with ginger, lemongrass, and fresh cilantro.
13. Sesame Cucumber Salad
Light and refreshing, this salad is perfect as a quick, healthy lunch or an enticing appetizer. Crunchy cucumber is mixed with sesame oil, red pepper, onion, and chopped peanuts. This is a sweet and spicy dish with complex tastes and textures.
14. Thai Green Papaya Salad
Green papaya is just orange papaya that hasn’t fully ripened yet. The immature fruit is less sweet but has a firmer texture and more bite, making it ideal for this mildly sweet and tangy salad.
15. Chopped Thai Salad
This vibrantly colorful salad is almost too pretty to eat. Almost. Kale, carrots, bell peppers, and cilantro provide a rainbow-like mix of shredded veggies. This healthy blend is then drizzled with a homemade sesame garlic dressing.
16. Thai Corn Fritters
There are two words guaranteed to get me drooling. And those words are corn fritters. These addictive appetizers may involve deep frying, but they’re surprisingly easy. Just whisk up a simple corn batter, chill until thick, and drop into hot oil to make golden brown, crispy nuggets. Serve warm with a side of Thai sweet chili sauce and watch them disappear.
17. Thai Fried Peanuts
Forget salt and pepper peanuts, it’s time to rethink your condiments with this unique recipe for Thai-flavored nuts. Peanuts are fried with lemon leaves, garlic, and chili until crispy, spicy, and irresistibly delicious.
18. Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce
If you’ve never made spring rolls you owe it to yourself to try this easy and fun recipe. Crunchy veggies and soft noodles are encased in rice wrappers and served with a zesty, peanut sauce. Once you’ve mastered the technique, you’ll want to eat these for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
19. Thai Carrot Soup
You’ve probably eaten carrot soup before, but have you tried Thai carrot soup? Adding classic Thai flavors like sweet basil, garlic, coconut, and peanut transforms this traditional soup into something exotic and enticing. Try a bowl, and you’ll never want to make it any other way.
20. Thai Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Coconut & Lime
Fed up with Thanksgiving-style sweet potatoes? This Thai-inspired side will reignite your sweet potato spark. Chunks of sweet potato are roasted and coated in a Thai spice blend before being served up with coconut shavings, green onion, and a dash of lime juice.
21. Thai Green Curry with Vegetables
This quick and easy curry is a must for meatless Mondays. Packed with healthy vegetables – including asparagus, carrot and spinach – it’s a creamy, mild curry that’s more fragrant than fiery. Serve over rice or quinoa and add tofu if you’re in the mood for something more filling.
22.Thai Coconut Cake
Thai desserts showcase the best of the region’s fruits and there’s no fruit more commonplace in Thai cuisine than coconut. Here, coconut milk and flakes are whipped into a potato flour batter and baked until golden brown. This isn’t your usual sugary cake, it’s a lightly sweet, moist bread that would be equally delicious as a snack, at breakfast time, or served with dinner.
23. Rolled Ice Cream
This inventive recipe for rolled ice-cream features just two ingredients. Yes, you read that right – two! Simply mix sweetened, condensed milk with cream, spread on a baking tray, and freeze. When it sets, you can then roll the flattened mixture into a spiral shape. The fun part comes when you pick your toppings. The recipe gives three suggestions – strawberry cheesecake, Nutella, and cookies n’ cream. In the spirit of scientific endeavor, you’ll simply have to make all three and choose your favorite.
24. Thai Mango Sticky Rice
Sticky rice is simmered in coconut milk and sugar for this fruity dessert. Chunks of sweet and juicy mango are added just before serving, and the whole bowl is finished off with a sprinkling of sesame seeds. If you’ve never had rice for dessert before, now’s the time to give it a try!
25. Thai Banana in Coconut Milk
Known as Kluai Buat Chi, this is a deceptively simple dessert that’s healthy but satisfying. It has just four ingredients – banana, coconut milk, salt, and sugar – and is ready in 15 minutes. Stir everything together and serve warm for a sweet, porridge-like pudding. Click on a star to rate it!
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