How To Use Thai Herbs In The Kitchen

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Thai cuisine is a mixture of complex flavors that are blended together. Some of the combinations sound outrageous when you look at them individually, however the potent spicy, sweet and sour ingredients combine to make spectacular dishes that makes Thai food famous for what it is. If you do not live in Thailand, finding these ingredients can be a challenge in its own right. In the colder regions of the world, commonly used Thai herbs can be grown indoors. If you live in the tropics to the subtropics, you can easily grow most of the plants native to Thailand that gives Thai cuisine it's unique aroma and taste.


Thai Herbs

Most Thai dishes are herb based for their unique flavors that these herbs bring to the food, it is difficult to cover the enormous amount of herbs that are used in Thailand, however, a few are used as a staple ingredient in most of the dishes. Thai sweet basil is used in many dishes including stir fries, in particularly the pork dish called “Padka Pow” and Thai green curry. It is also a pretty plant with red flowers, dark green leaves and a purple stem. The plant is also known as 'Bai Horapa' in Thailand and has a bit of a licorice smell to it when crushed in your hand.

Spicy Heat

If you are asked somebody to name a country that serves spicy food, Thailand will be one of the popular answers. Little Thai chili peppers grow like weeds and produce edible fruit at only six months of age. They easily grow from seed and also look great in your garden as the fruit is fantastic as an ornamental plant as well. You're after the little ones commonly known as Birdseye or 'Prik Kee Noo'. It is actually recommended to wear gloves when working with this plant and in particularly when picking its fruit. You must be careful not to wipe sweat from your four head or eyes as the juice on your fingers can cause excruciating pain. Boys also have to be careful and wash their hands thoroughly before they go to the toilet after picking the Thai chili peppers.

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Photo of a Birdseye Clilly, these are about 4cm long and very hot.

One of the most popular and common herbs in Thailand is lemongrass. This is a fast-growing very hardy plant that has excellent drought tolerance characteristics. It grows well in climate zones eight and higher, it's major enemy is frost for the home gardener. In Thailand. It's also known as 'Dtakrai' and has a rather strong lemon flavor to it. Actually, yellow lemons are very rare in the country and this plant is used instead, small green limes are common however.

This grass is used extensively on embankments to help stop erosion as they have a very aggressive root structure and they also keep mosquitoes away. I have actually seen dogs in Thailand, deliberately running through lemongrass plants, this releases a pleasant fragrance that mosquitoes avoid and also offers the dog and natural insect repellent. The lemongrass is the main ingredient in the famous Tom Yam soups. These are watery soups that are very sour and bitter commonly served with large prawns.

Being in the topics, Thailand , Thailand has many succulent tropical fruits, gorgeous flowers and edible herbs. Many of these are easy for you to grow in your own home garden.