20 Thai Food Recipes That Bring Culture to Your Kitchen
By Michael Matthews
If you want make Thai food that puts the place down the street to shame, then you want to try these 20 recipes…
Who doesn’t have fond memories of sipping away at a piping hot bowl of pho? Or of enjoying the taste and texture of a fresh, crunchy spring roll or pile of pad thai?
Thai cuisine can be healthy and delicious, and you don’t have to rely on the takeaway shop down the street to get your fix.
With options like Thai Chili Chicken Paleo Pizza and Chopped Thai Shrimp Salad, you’re sure to find something in this list of 20 Thai recipes you’ll love to make (and eat) at home.
Enjoy!
Thai Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao)
Picture courtesy of Recipe Tin Eats
When you order this spicy noodle dish from a Thai restaurant, you might wind up consuming more fat than you realize. Luckily it’s an easy favorite to recreate at home.
These healthy drunken noodles have everything you crave – juicy chicken, fresh basil, and savory Thai noodles – without any excess oil.
Serves 2
Ingredients
7 oz. pad Thai noodles
10 oz. chicken thigh fillets, cut into bite-size pieces
1 cup packed basil leaves
2 shallots, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 bird’s eye chilies, deseeded and minced
2 Tbsp. peanut oil
3 Tbsp. oyster sauce
1 1/2 Tbsp. light soy sauce
1 1/2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. water
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 470
Protein: 37 grams
Carbs: 35 grams
Fat: 23 grams
Thai Coconut Chili Chicken Skewers
Picture courtesy of 12 Tomatoes
These skewers are delicious, healthy, and a quick weeknight dinner.
Don’t be daunted by the long list of ingredients. You can do the prep work in stages so that it hardly feels like you’re cooking dinner at all. Since the meat has to marinate for at least a few hours, you can get these ready a day ahead. Then when you’re hungry, thread the chicken onto skewers, and toss them on a hot grill (or grill pan).
Serve with steamed veggies, brown rice, or quinoa.
Serves 6
Ingredients
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz. each), cubed
Juice and zest of 2 limes
1 cup light coconut milk
1 1/2 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
1 1/2 Tbsp. light brown sugar
1 Tbsp. shallots, minced
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. curry powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
1/4 tsp. grated fresh ginger
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 314
Protein: 42 grams
Carbs: 7 grams
Fat: 13 grams
Thai Meatball Lettuce Wraps
Picture courtesy of The Garlic Diaries
Meatballs can be served with more than spaghetti. Not only do they make a delicious sandwich, but these Thai meatballs are especially tasty as a lettuce wrap.
There’s no marinara or melted cheese in this recipe. These meatball wraps are topped with shredded cabbage, fresh herbs, and sweet chili sauce. And if you’d stand to benefit from the carbs, you can also turn this dish into a Thai rice bowl.
Serves 6
Ingredients
Pork Meatballs:
1 1/2 lb. extra-lean ground pork
4 scallions, thinly sliced
1 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp. fish sauce
1/2 tsp. Sriracha
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. lime juice
1 Tbsp. sweet chili sauce (or more to taste)
Coleslaw:
1 bag (14 oz.) coleslaw mix
10 basil leaves, thinly sliced
5 mint leaves, thinly sliced
3 Tbsp. fresh chopped cilantro
1 scallion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup rice vinegar
5 tsp. light mayonnaise
4 tsp. sweet chili sauce
6 large lettuce leaves
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 252
Protein: 25 grams
Carbs: 15 grams
Fat: 9 grams
Cabbage Pad Thai
Picture courtesy of White on Rice Couple
Sometimes you want the flavors of Thai takeout without the heaviness of takeout. For a lightened up pad Thai, fill the bowl with veggies and bean sprouts instead of rice noodles.
Pick any kind of cabbage you like for the base of the dish, and add your favorite vegetables like carrots and bell pepper. Quickly sauté all the fresh ingredients, scramble the egg, toss with tangy sauce, and garnish with peanuts.
The best part is this only takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.
Serves 4
Ingredients
Sauce:
2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
1 Tbsp. fish sauce (or tamari sauce)
3 Tbsp. ketchup
1 tsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. chili garlic sauce
Cabbage Pad Thai:
1 medium cabbage (about 2 lb.), thinly sliced
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium carrot, shredded
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
3 green onions, sliced into 1” pieces
1 large egg
2 cups bean sprouts
1/3 cup roasted peanuts, for garnish
Fresh cilantro (optional)
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 274
Protein: 13 grams
Carbs: 28 grams
Fat: 15 grams
Chopped Thai Shrimp Salad
Picture courtesy of Pinch of Yum
Salad doesn’t have to be a boring way to eat your greens.
This one is like a Thai shrimp appetizer, only the ingredients – including edamame, cashews, and wanton wrappers – are chopped up and served with a serving of spinach. Then it’s topped with a garlic lime dressing that’s packed with fresh herbs like mint and cilantro.
If you have Thai basil, that would be delicious in the dressing instead whether you make it mint-basil or basil-cilantro.
Serves 5
Ingredients
Garlic-Lime Herb Dressing:
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
Juice of 2 limes
2 Tbsp. Water
1 Tbsp. pure honey
2 cloves garlic
1 serrano pepper
1 cup packed fresh herbs
1/2 tsp. salt
Thai Shrimp Salad:
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 serrano pepper, minced
1 lb. shrimp
4 cups spinach
4 large carrots, peeled
2 cups edamame, shelled and cooked
3/4 cup cashews
Fried wanton wrappers (optional)
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 413
Protein: 27 grams
Carbs: 18 grams
Fat: 28 grams
Sweet Potato Cauliflower Curry
Picture courtesy of Get Healthy U
If you’re used to eating Thai food as takeout, chances are you haven’t experienced how light yet flavorful it can be. But Thai cuisine excels at being both healthy and satisfying.
To make this sweet potato curry richer, it’s optional to add peanut butter (or PB2). However, it’s not necessary to make this veggie curry delicious, especially if you serve it alongside Thai barbecue chicken and brown rice.
Serves 6
Ingredients
1 large sweet potato
2 cups sliced carrots
1 cauliflower
1 red bell pepper
3” fresh ginger
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. ground ginger
4 Tbsp. tamari or soy sauce
1 bag (6 oz.) fresh spinach
1 Tbsp. red curry paste
Handful of fresh cilantro (optional garnish)
2 Tbsp. peanut butter (optional)
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 172
Protein: 7 grams
Carbs: 20 grams
Fat: 9 grams
Thai Curry Mussels
Picture courtesy of The Healthy Maven
You don’t need much more than a pot of boiling water to prepare mussels, but you don’t have to keep it simple.
Adding flavors like lemongrass and ginger will make them into a completely different dish. This requires gathering quite a few more ingredients than the typical recipe for mussels, although you’ll be richly rewarded.
The end result is Thai mussels that are good enough to upgrade from appetizer to main course.
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 medium onion, sliced
1 stalk fresh lemongrass, chopped
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1 jalapeno, sliced
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh ginger
2 Tbsp. green curry paste
2 cans (15 oz. each) light coconut milk
1 Tbsp. fish sauce
1 tsp. salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
Handful of fresh basil
2 lbs. mussels, scrubbed and debearded
Juice of 1 lime
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 419
Protein: 28 grams
Carbs: 30 grams
Fat: 21 grams
Thai Coconut Chicken Salad
Picture courtesy of paleOMG
Coconut chicken curry is amazing, and this salad is a warm weather version with a nutty sunflower seed dressing. There’s lots to enjoy about this generous salad, including shredded coconut, cucumber, and sweet potato.
For more delicious recipes like Buffalo chicken casserole and Mexican meatloaf, pick up Juli Bauer’s Paleo Cookbook.
Serves 4
Ingredients
Dressing:
1/4 cup sunflower seed butter
2 Tbsp. pure honey
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1 Tbsp. coconut vinegar
1 Tbsp. coconut aminos
Juice of 1/2 lime
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
Thai Salad:
4 Tbsp. coconut oil, divided
1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast, pounded thin
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
1 small sweet potato (about 2 cups), shredded
6 cups mixed greens
1 cucumber, diced
1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 681
Protein: 32 grams
Carbs: 74 grams
Fat: 30 grams
Slow Cooker Thai Beef Stew
Picture courtesy of mindbodygreen
Thai cuisine is brimming with amazing soups and curries. So it’s no surprise that it also includes a delicious version of what’s also an American comfort food: beef stew.
Yet somehow this is made even richer with coconut milk, as well as seasonings that go far beyond salt and pepper. Fresh ginger and red curry paste deliver big on flavor. And a serving of mixed vegetables is included to boost nutrition.
Serves 8
Ingredients
2 Tbsp. coconut oil, divided
3 lb. beef stew meat, trimmed of fat
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. minced fresh ginger
1 can (13.5 oz.) full-fat coconut milk
1/3 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup red curry paste
2 Tbsp. fish sauce
2 tsp. fresh lime juice
2 tsp. sea salt
1 cups broccoli florets
2 cups julienned carrots
1 cup peeled and julienned jicama
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 532
Protein: 54 grams
Carbs: 13 grams
Fat: 28 grams
Thai Sesame Patties
Picture courtesy of Apple of my Eye
If you want to load up on lean protein without chicken breast or sliced turkey, make these Thai turkey patties.
They’re good enough to just pick up and eat with your hands, especially with a tasty dipping sauce. Of course, they can also be served with brown rice or a Thai noodle dish. Or you can turn them into healthy sliders with a piece of lettuce and toppings of choice.
Serves 5 / Makes 20
Ingredients
5 green onions, chopped
1 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. fresh ginger, minced
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground pepper
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
1 1/2 lb. extra-lean ground turkey
2 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds
1 1/2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 large egg
1/2 Tbsp. sesame oil
1 Tbsp. canola oil
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 255
Protein: 29 grams
Carbs: 5 grams
Fat: 14 grams
Crispy Tilapia in Curry Sauce
Picture courtesy of The Wanderlust Kitchen
Bangkok is on the Gulf of Thailand, which is why there are a lot of amazing seafood dishes in the region. Tilapia is frequently raised in Southeast Asia, so it’s perfect to pair with this Thai curry sauce.
This fish curry is delicious, but that’s not the only reason to have it for dinner. You can keep all the ingredients on hand in the pantry, only stopping by the store for the tilapia and lime. Or, get the fish whenever it’s on sale, and keep it in the freezer to thaw the day of cooking.
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 tilapia fillets (about 4 oz. each)
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. oil
1 can (14 oz.) light coconut milk
2 Tbsp. panang curry paste (or red curry paste)
1/4 cup water
1 Tbsp. palm sugar
2 Tbsp. fish sauce
2–4 fresh lime leaves
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 275
Protein: 23 grams
Carbs: 15 grams
Fat: 14 grams
Thai Butternut Squash Soup
Picture courtesy of Healthy Nibbles and Bits
Butternut squash soup might sound plain, but this one is packed with flavor. Along with the naturally sweet and creamy squash, there’s garlic, ginger, and lemongrass.
This recipe is for a simple soup that’s good as is. Or, you can build on top of it with flavors like turmeric and coconut. The easiest way is to add garnishes like toasted coconut, pumpkin seeds, and fresh cilantro.
It’s also delicious to add a splash of coconut milk and let it swirl into the soup.
Serves 4
Ingredients
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 Thai chilies, halved lengthwise
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, sliced
1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger
3 stalks lemongrass
3 cups cooked butternut squash
2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup plain soy milk
Salt to taste
1 tsp. turmeric (optional)
Juice of 1 lime
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 193
Protein: 7 grams
Carbs: 23 grams
Fat: 9 grams
Ginger Lemongrass Soup with Crispy Tofu
Picture courtesy of Sobremesa
The lemongrass soup you can get in Thai restaurants – usually tom kha gai – is awesome. But this homemade version with crispy tofu and forbidden rice takes it to the next level.
Pan-fry the tofu first, and set aside. Then prepare the soup to simmer for 15 minutes. It takes less time to make this soup from scratch than to wait for delivery to arrive.
Serves 4
Ingredients
2 tsp. coconut oil, divided
1 package (14 oz.) extra-firm tofu
1/4 cup tamari or soy sauce
1 Tbsp. agave syrup
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1 yellow onion, diced
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 bunch scallions, chopped and divided
4 cloves garlic, minced
1” fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 stalk lemongrass
3 cups vegetable broth
1 can (13.5 oz.) full-fat coconut milk
Juice and zest of 1 lime
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 384
Protein: 16 grams
Carbs: 20 grams
Fat: 28 grams
Thai Herb Grilled Chicken Breasts
Picture courtesy of The Yummy Life
Spice up chicken breast with more than the usual salt, pepper, and garlic.
This grilled chicken recipe uses a marinade that couldn’t possibly contain more fresh herbs. Not only does have tons of cilantro and basil, but there’s also coconut milk and ginger for more Thai flavor. Serve with lime wedges.
Serves 10
Ingredients
8 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh cilantro
3/4 cup coconut milk
12 leaves fresh basil
1 jalapeno, deseeded and cored
3 cloves garlic
2 slices fresh ginger
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
3/4 tsp. ground coriander
2 tsp. brown sugar
2 limes, for garnish
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 240
Protein: 39 grams
Carbs: 3 grams
Fat: 7 grams
Thai Stuffed Omelette (Khai Yat Sai)
Picture courtesy of Pease Pudding
You can call this Thai dish an omelette, but it goes way beyond eggs. It’s more stuffing than anything else – and that’s definitely not a bad thing.
To start, make a crepe-thin omelette by slowly tilting the pan, preferably a wok, in all directions while the egg cooks. Then make the pork to stuff inside, or use the thin Thai omelette for your breakfast filling of choice.
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 large eggs
Salt and white pepper to taste
18 oz. lean ground pork
1 onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
2 green onions, chopped (plus more for garnish)
2 stalks cilantro, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 bird’s eye chilies, minced
2 Tbsp. oyster sauce
2 Tbsp. tomato sauce
Dash of fish sauce
Dash of soy sauce
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 326
Protein: 34 grams
Carbs: 12 grams
Fat: 17 grams
Ultimate Thai BBQ Chicken
Picture courtesy of Hot Thai Kitchen
What makes Thai barbecue any different than the American style? The seasonings bring some new flavors to the table, including lemongrass and coriander, but there’s also a difference in cooking style.
You might be used to throwing chicken onto a super-hot grill to get it cooked quickly. Instead, be sure to cook these more slowly over medium-low. And to get a real taste of Thailand, head to an Asian grocer to round up the ingredients for nam jim jeaw, the dipping sauce.
Serves 4
Ingredients
Barbecue Chicken:
2 split chicken breasts, bone-in
2 chicken hindquarters, bone-in
1 1/2 tsp. white peppercorns
2 tsp. coriander seeds
1 stalk lemongrass, thinly sliced
5 cloves garlic
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
3 Tbsp. fish sauce
1 Tbsp. black soy sauce
1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
Dipping Sauce:
2 Tbsp. tamarind juice
1 Tbsp. palm sugar, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. fish sauce
Juice of 1/2 lime
Chili flakes to taste
1 Tbsp. minced shallot
1 Tbsp. chopped green onion
3 sprigs cilantro, chopped
1 Tbsp. toasted rice powder
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 408
Protein: 34 grams
Carbs: 17 grams
Fat: 23 grams
Thai Chili Chicken Paleo Pizza
Picture courtesy of Joyful Healthy Eats
For pizza unlike any you’ve had before, try this flavorful and protein-packed Thai chicken pizza.
It’s topped with spicy chicken, red pepper, and pineapple, but that’s not all. The gluten-free pizza crust is made out of cauliflower and Parmesan cheese. While it’s not soft or doughy, cauliflower does make a thin, crispy base for the toppings.
Serves 4
Ingredients
Cauliflower Crust:
1 large cauliflower
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup (2 oz.) Parmesan
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Thai Chicken Pizza:
1 boneless skinless chicken breast (about 6 oz.), cooked and diced
1/3 cup diced red pepper
1/3 cup diced pineapple
1/4 cup diced green onions
1 1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded mozzarella
Thai Chili Sauce:
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup water
2 1/2 Tbsp. pure honey
1/2 tsp. fresh grated ginger
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. chili sauce
1/2 tsp. arrowroot powder
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 381
Protein: 35 grams
Carbs: 28 grams
Fat: 15 grams
Thai Red Curry Chicken with Dark Leafy Greens
Picture courtesy of The Perfect Pantry
Ever order curry and wind up with mostly sauce and no stuff? That’s one major benefit of cooking at home, and this Thai curry recipe has you covered.
It has big chunks of juicy chicken, plus broccoli, mushrooms, and pepper. There’s also spinach in the mix, although you could also use kale, chard, or mustard greens.
Serves 4
Ingredients
2 tsp. vegetable oil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz. each), cubed
1 small onion, diced
1 small red pepper, diced
3 cups broccoli florets, halved
4 oz. sliced mushrooms
2 Tbsp. Thai red curry paste
2 tsp. brown sugar
Juice of 1/2 lime
2 tsp. fish sauce
8 oz. baby spinach leaves
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 275
Protein: 30 grams
Carbs: 14 grams
Fat: 11 grams
Thai Peanut Chicken
Picture courtesy of The Fit Housewife
This easy version of the classic Thai flavor combo of peanuts, ginger, and chicken can be made in the slow cooker.
That’s not the only American twist on this since it also uses salsa to add heat. If you have Thai ingredients on hand, like chili sauce, you can adapt this recipe by adding those seasonings to taste. But there’s no need because the short-cuts will still make a delicious Thai-inspired dinner.
Serves 6
Ingredients
12 boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 cup salsa (mild or medium)
1/3 cup peanut butter
2 Tbsp. orange juice concentrate
1 Tbsp. liquid aminos (or low-sodium soy sauce)
1 Tbsp. pure honey
1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger
1/2 tsp. curry powder
Green onions, sliced (optional garnish)
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 342
Protein: 38 grams
Carbs: 29 grams
Fat: 16 grams
Watermelon Rind Sour Curry
Picture courtesy of Recipes Hubs
Get the most out of that melon. Don’t just use the fruit – dice up the rind for dinner. It’s great at soaking up all the flavors of the other ingredients in the dish, and its mild flavor blends into the background while bringing everything else together.
Watermelon rind is nutritional too with trace vitamins and phytonutrients.
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 cups water
3 oz. white fish
3 Tbsp. sour curry paste
3 cups watermelon rind
1 Tbsp. tamarind paste
1 Tbsp. fish sauce (or more to taste)
1/2 tsp. granulated sugar
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 76
Protein: 7 grams
Carbs: 13 grams
Fat: < 1 gram
What did you think of these Thai food recipes? Have anything else to share? Let me know in the comments below!
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