When we think of an Indian cooking pantry, particularly North Indian, there are a host of ingredients that are staple to the cuisine. Tomatoes and onions are an intrinsic part of most curries and gravies, from a creamy Butter Paneer Masala to a fiery Mutton Roganjosh. Garlic is also an important ingredient that adds a strong flavour to the dish. Similarly, South India extensively uses coconut in their dishes, be it in the form of desiccated coconut, oil or milk. Moving beyond the regional cuisines, even global plates feature certain ingredients that are widely used across that country.
It could be anything under the sun, a certain kind of rice or noodle, a vegetable, a fruit, a condiment, a spice. Along the same lines, Thai food also has specific ingredients that are a must while making their dishes. This Asian cuisine emphasizes a lot on green vegetables and spices with broccoli, zucchini and several leafy vegetables spruced up as Thai delicacies in most restaurants. The highlight of the cuisine is their use of certain spices which lend the fare a distinct spicy, sweet and sour taste.
I’m an ardent fan of Thai green curry. The creamy yet thin curry, dunked with tender pieces of boiled chicken is a perfect accompaniment for a pot of steamed rice. At a Thai restaurant in Delhi, when I was first trying out the Thai curry, I enquired from the server about the its taste. A little apprehensive that it might turn out too sweet, the server simply responded, “It is coconut-sweet” and that’s how I like to describe it to my friends whenever they ask me about its taste.
While the ingredients involved in thai cooking are quite specific, they may not be readily available. If you plan on cooking thai food, it is best to stock up your pantry with these essentials to cook hassle-free later.
1. Kaffir Lime
This citrusy fruit, as the name suggests, is a special type of Thai lime. There are dual benefits of this fruit as along with the lime, the leaves are also widely used in cooking Thai food. Apart from being an important ingredient for essential oils, the leaves are ground along with other herbs to make the green thai curry paste. This leaves a strong hint of tanginess in the dish.
2. Fish Sauce
This fish sauce is a staple ingredient in the Thai kitchen pantry. The anchovies and salt undergo fermentation in wooden barrels which give the fishy liquid a strong aroma. The earthy flavours of nam bplah serve as a great seasoning agent in most Southeast Asian cuisines. It can be used in marinations, for salad dressings as well as in noodle soups.
3. Thai Basil
Unlike holy basil, which is commonly used in stir-frying vegetables and meats, thai basil imparts a sharper and stronger flavour to the dishes in which it is used. It doesn’t wilt on the exposure to heat and has mild hints of spice to the freshness of the basil leaves. Thai basil is extensively used in curries like the green thai curry as well as salads. Apart from the bold flavours, the purple and green leaves lend a beautiful fragrance to the dish.
4. Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is the base of most of the popular Thai curries. It lends a certain creaminess as well as gravy-like consistency to the dish. Apart from curries, desserts, dressings and dips also make use of this milk to spruce up delicacies. The amount of coconut milk you use in the dish will determine the taste. In order to bring out the best of flavours, it is best to be generous while adding coconut milk.
5. Tamarind
What we call imli in Hindi, tamarind is used as a souring agent in most Thai recipes. The pulp of the tangy fruit is separated from the seeds and added to curries. Soups and marinades also use tamarind to get the extra touch of tanginess and zest. It is often featured in classics like pad thai noodles too.
6. Thai Red Chilli
Do you know the specialty of this chilli? It is not only a part of curries but serves as an important ingredient for condiments too. Also known as bird’s eye chilli, these fresh chillies are specific to the region. While they can be chopped and mixed with sauces, they are dried to be used in curry pastes. It is used in salads too like the Papaya salad.
Other essential ingredients are galangal, a type of thai ginger, palm sugar, black pepper and more.
