RSSFor A Truely Unique Dining Experience You Should Try A Traditional Thai Restaurant
Feb 09
thailand drink, food, minnesota, restaurant, thai, Thai Food, thailand No Comments
The cuisine of the orient has had a profound effect on the culture of the United States. There are many different styles of Oriental cuisine, most of which are indicative of a particular Asian culture. While Chinese and Japanese cuisine has been popular for a long time, the food of Thailand has recently made an impact in the United States. Many of the most popular traditional dishes of Thailand can be sampled at a Thai restaurant near you.
Upon your first visit to a Thai restaurant you may think that many of the dishes are similar to those you will get a Chinese or Japanese restaurant. However, one you try some of these dishes you will notice a difference in the two cuisines. Typically Thai food tends to contain a fair amount of heat, meaning it is rather spicy. This does not mean that all Thai cuisine is spicy, in fact there are different regions of Thailand that all have an effect on the heat and flavor intensity of the food.
In the last decade or so there has been an influx of Thai restaurants that have opened in just about every major city in the United States. Perhaps you have one in your area, but you have hesitated to go there because you are uncertain as to whether you will like the food, or you fear you won’t know what to order. The following explanation of the basics of Thai cuisine and a few suggestions may encourage you to visit the Thai restaurant in your neighborhood.
While the two foods are not exactly the same, if you enjoy Chinese food you will probably enjoy Thai food as well. The mainstay in both cuisines is rice and it is probably prevalent in many of the dishes that your local restaurant offers. It is tradition to serve groups of dishes with a complement of rice accompanying it. Thai food is prepared in several different ways but the most popular are stir fry and steam cooking.
Thai cooking contains a generous use of spices, but this does not mean that all their food is spicy. In fact Thai food tends to have a variety of flavors, including sweet, salty, and bitter or sour. Most restaurants will offer a variety of condiments with their food, some of these may be unfamiliar to you.
Along with the standard soy sauce you may find that your food is served with a side of chili powder, sweet chili sauce, and different types of fish sauce such as Nam Pla. Nam Pla is an intensely flavored fish sauce that is made from anchovies, salt, and water. The ingredients are placed in a box and allowed to dry. The longer the anchovies dry the more intense the flavor will be.
There are some main staples that can be found in every Thai cook’s cupboard. These items include ginger, lemon grass, cilantro, chilies, and coconut milk, to name a few. Rice is obviously a big main stay in a Thai cupboard. Not only is rice sued as a side dish but it is also a main ingredient in many items, such as noodles and spring roll wrappers.
Perhaps the most popular rice dish in traditional Thai cuisine is Pad Thai. Pad Thai is actually a term that translates to Thai style frying. This is a noodle dish that is made from stir fried rice noodles that are combined with eggs, peanuts, shallots, sprouts and a choice of meats. The Pad Thai that is found in many American Thai restaurants is a variation of a popular dish that is sold at roadside stands all throughout Thailand.
Rad Na is another dish that you will typically find on a Thai restaurant menu. Rad Na is a dish made from wide rice noodles, oriental style mushrooms, and garlic. It will also contain a source of protein such as seafood or poultry. The dish is topped off with thin gravy that is made from stock, soy sauce, and a type of starch such as corn starch or tapioca.
Looking to find the best Thai restaurant in St Paul, MN, then visit www.krauthailand.com to find the best Thai food in the Twin City area.
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