Healthy Thai Food

When it comes to Thailand, one generally remembers the huge elephants. But did you know that Thailand is famous for its food also? Like every country, Thai food has its own unique flavor. Not only its tasty, it also has an aroma which makes the mouth water long before it is consumed! Unlike most of the other foods, Thai food does not have just one flavor, most of the time it is sweet, sour, spicy, salty and bitter (at times). If you have the question, is Thai food healthy or not, stop worrying. Thai food is very healthy. You will see the use of ingredients like lemongrass, turmeric, coconut milk, etc. in Thai food and we know very well that all these ingredients have loads of health benefits. But just like other foods, Thai food also has some dishes which are loaded with butter and cheese, so it's up to you to go for healthy Thai food options. The following are such healthy food options for you.

Healthy and Delicious Thai Food Recipes

Tom Yum Goong - Soup
Ingredients

• 3 kaffir lime leaves
• 5 sprigs cilantro
• 1-2 limes
• 5 mushrooms
• 1 lemon grass
• 4 cups water
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 cup shrimp
• 3 chili peppers

Process

Boil water in a 2 quart pot. Meanwhile, clean and de-vein shrimp and set aside. Cut lemon grass into 5-6 inches long pieces. To release the flavor from lemon grass, hit it a little with the back of your knife. Add the lemongrass to the boiling water and let boil for 5 minutes. In the serving bowls add juice of 1 lemon, fish sauce and crushed chili pepper. Add only the leafy part of kaffir lime to the pot. Cut the mushrooms into half and add to the pot along with shrimp and turn off the heat immediately. Pour the liquid along with the shrimp into the bowls immediately. The soup will become cloudy due to lemon juice. Now season with cilantro and serve.

Gai Yang - Barbecued Chicken
Ingredients

• 1 tsp coriander (ground)
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• ½ cup coriander chopped fine
• 4 pounds chicken drumsticks
• 8 cloves garlic (crushed)
• 1tbsp pepper white (ground)
• 1tbsp red chili flakes (red chili)
• 2 tsp shrimp paste
• 1tbsp chopped garlic
• 2 tsp galangal, chopped
• 2 tbsp chopped shallots
• 1 tsp kaffir lime rind
• 1tbsp coriander root, pounded or chopped
• 16 small dried red chilies
• 2 tbsp lemon grass, chopped
• 1 tsp each white pepper corns and cumin seeds, roasted and powdered
• 2 tsp fish sauce
• 1tbsp coriander seeds, roasted and powdered

Process

This dish is served with Nam Prik Dang, which is a red curry paste. First we will see how to make the chicken and then the method to make red curry paste .

Mix garlic, ground and chopped coriander, chicken drumsticks, pepper white, 1 tsp salt, red chili flakes, lime juice and garlic cloves in a bowl. See to it that the drumsticks are coated thoroughly with the mixture. Marinate the mixture overnight. The next day, barbecue the drumsticks over charcoal fire for about 30 minutes, over moderate heat.

For making the curry paste, blend the rest of the ingredient until a fine paste is formed. Refrigerate the paste until necessary.

Kao Niaw Ma-Muang - Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango
Ingredients

• 3 mangoes, peeled and sliced
• 1tbsp tapioca starch
• 2 cups water
• 1½ cups coconut milk
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup coconut milk
• 1tbsp white sugar
• 1½ cups uncooked short-grain white rice
• 1tbsp toasted sesame seeds
• 1 cup white sugar

Process

Take a medium-sized saucepan and add water along with rice int it. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low, simmer for about 15 - 20 minutes. Meanwhile, add 1 cup sugar, 1½ cups coconut milk and ½ tsp salt to another saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and then set aside. Add the cooked rice to the coconut milk mixture. Cover and let cool for about 1 hour. Start making the sauce by adding 1 tbsp sugar, ½ cup coconut milk, tapioca starch and ¼ salt in a saucepan and let boil. Serve the sticky rice on the serving dish, arrange the mango slices on top of the mango. Lastly pour the sauce on top and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

These were some tasty and healthy Thai food recipes. These unique tasting Thai dishes are sure to make you crave for more! Not only will these recipes please your taste buds, but also make you healthy! Bon Appetit!