In Thailand, Tom Yum Goong is available in countless variations. Spices and herbs vary from mild to spicy, sour to sweet, as do the broth choices like clear or creamy. These broth choices generally use shrimp or coconut milk based on the type of spice and herb mix.

This soup tastes more delicious when nam phrik pao or Thai roasted chili jam is added to it. A wide range of ingredients is used to make jam, including dried shrimp, onion, garlic, tamarind, dried chilies, salt, and sugar. It adds a flavorful kick to the soup by taking it to a whole new level.

Its excellent flavor is enhanced by the aromatic spices, including lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, galangal, lime, and the small spice bomb the Thai bird’s eye chili. This soup is delicious whether it is vegetarian or non-vegetarian, and the main meat chosen in this soup is shrimp. Some versions of the recipe allow shrimp to be substituted for beef, chicken, or even pork.

The soup is simple and quick to make as you prepare the base broth and aromatic spice paste in advance. For preparing the soup you need to gently simmer the shrimp shell and head with aromats like galangal, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, cilantro stems, and tamarind for around 20-25 minutes. After that strain the stock and discard all the spices and shrimp shell and head.

In the same pot, start boiling the broth with some lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and oyster mushroom. Cook till the mushrooms are soft, add the deveined prawn or goong, Thai bird’s eye chili (as per your liking – remember it is quite spicy but a must), onion, nam phrik pao, and tomatoes. Simmer for a few minutes until the shrimp plump up and the flesh turns opaque.

Once the shrimps are done, add fish sauce and lime juice to provide that necessary sourness to cut through the spiciness of the soup. Turn off the flame, add fresh cilantro leaves and serve it piping hot with a bowl of rice.

It is important to always prepare the soup with fresh ingredients as cooking with paste from a store will not give the soup that freshness and zing. Try it yourself and you will understand the difference.

The post The Taste of Thailand – Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup) appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Best of Thai Food for first-timers – Popular Thai Dishes

Som Tam: Green Papaya Salad
This popular thai dish has  perfect balance of flavours; sweet, sour, and spicy, this salad is based around the primary ingredient of green Papaya.

Green Papaya Salad is prepared by having an unripe papaya and is shredded, then tossed with sugar, lime juice, chili peppers, shrimp, peanuts, and veggies like tomatoes and green beans to create a juicy, tongue-tingling mixture that Is truly worth a try!

Pad Thai: Stir-Fried Noodles
Another one of Thailand’s popular culinary inventions is the mouth-watering Pad Thai. It has been named Thailand’s national dish for a reason!

This popular thai dish is prepared by Stir-fried noodles that are wok-tossed with an array of vegetables, choice of meat, and additions like tamarind pulp, crushed nuts, egg, bean sprouts, and lime. The dish is cheap and filling, pretty healthy and one of the best thai foods for first timers.

Satay: Grilled Meat Skewers
As you walk around the streets of Thailand, you’ll find a ton of people eating on-the-go. A popular takeaway thai foods item is satay, which are basically skewers of meat served with peanut sauce. The marinade differs with every street vendor, but it’s usually a good balance of sweet and spicy.

You can pick from chicken, pork, beef as well as buffalo meat, fish balls, and even intestines. A variety of hot sauces are slathered on the meat while it’s grilled, making it extra juicy, making this on of the best of thai food for the first timers who are trying Thai food which is also quick and tasty. Just grab a stick and go

Guay Teow: Noodle Soup
Another easy to eat street thai food item is Guay Teow or Noodle Soup. The base is common – noodles, but everything else can vary. Rice or egg noodles, are served in a thick, aromatic stock with meat, wontons or vegetables.

The standard components of chilli, lime juice, sugar, and fish sauce are a given. Don’t forget to chew and slurp as you work your way through this dish.

Khao Pad: Fried Rice
Thai fried rice is a commonly eaten dish in India making it one of the famous thai foods both countries, but the Thai version is something else. This delicacy is prepared by having the base is a cup of fragrant jasmine rice which gives it a strong, heady aroma when cooked with vegetables. As with every Thai dish, it starts with a bubbling mix of salt, sugar, fish sauce, and soy sauce, and the cooked rice is then tossed with vegetables, and sometimes shrimp and egg.

Pa Pia Sod: Steamed Spring Rolls
The version of Thailand’s Pa Pia Sod is guaranteed to put a ‘spring’ in your step! These freshly rolled appetizers come in bite size pieces, with a dipping sauce, surely among the best of thai food to try . It’s prepared by having a sheet of wheat or rice dough is filled with crunchy vegetable and soft marinated meat strips, and then rolled.

Pad See Ew: Soy Sauce Noodles
A darker variation of Pad Thai, Pad See Ew is a dish of flat rice noodles doused in soy sauce for a bold, punchy flavour. It’s mixed with meats, veggies like Chinese cabbage and broccoli, and a hit of chilli, and vinegar. The flavour is titillating and thoroughly enjoyed by visitors and locals alike.

The post 5 Must-Try Thai Food For First-Timers appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.