Thai food is famous worldwide for the perfect balance of its bold flavors and aromatic herbs. Whether you’re learning Thai cuisine for fun or diving into Thai culture, understanding the essential ingredients will help you cook authentic Thai dishes and appreciate the rich culinary heritage of Thailand.
In this guide, we’ll explore eight common Thai ingredients, their uses in Thai cooking, where to find them, and how to manage allergies if needed. Those learning Thai will also find the Thai names and scripts useful so you can recognize them when ordering food or shopping in Thailand.
Table of Contents
The Characteristics of Thai Food
Thai food is famous for its delicious and bold flavors. Here are some elements that make Thai food special:
- Balanced Flavors – Thai dishes mix sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors perfectly.
- Fresh Herbs and Spices – Ingredients like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and basil add depth and fragrance to the dishes.
- Spicy Kick – Thai food often uses chili peppers, but you can adjust the spice level to your preference.
- Rich Umami – Fish sauce, shrimp paste, and fermented soybeans give Thai food its deep, savory taste.
By understanding these key points, you can better understand and enjoy the unique taste of Thai dishes.
What Are "Ingredients"?
Ingredients – or “เครื่องปรุง (krêeuang-bprung)” in Thai – are the individual food items or components used to create a dish or recipe.
Ingredients include vegetables, meats, spices, herbs, and other seasonings.
For instance, when making ‘Pad Thai’, common ingredients include rice noodles, tamarind paste, fish sauce, shrimp, peanuts, bean sprouts, chives, and lime.
8 Common Thai Ingredients
As mentioned earlier, Thai food is known for its harmonious blend of sour, sweet, salty, and spicy flavors. So it’s no surprise that these seasonings are essential ingredients for creating the delicious taste of Thai cuisine.
Let’s have a look at these 8 common Thai ingredients:
🥘Fish Sauce (น้ำปลา - nám-bplaa)
Fish sauce is a key ingredient in Thai food, adding a salty and savory taste. Fish sauce is often used in stir-fries, soups, and curries. Fish sauce is an important ingredient used by mixing with lime juice, sugar, garlic, and chili to create flavorful dipping sauces for spring rolls, grilled meats, and seafood.
🥘Lemongrass (ตะไคร้ - dtà-krái)
Lemongrass is a fragrant herb that adds a citrusy aroma to Thai dishes. It’s one of the three must-have ingredients for any spicy soup (known as ‘ต้มยำ – Dtôm-yam’ in Thai). Finely chopped or ground lemongrass is often mixed into curry pastes, which are used in a range of Thai curries like Green Curry or Red Curry. Lemongrass tea is a popular drink, due to its refreshing taste and potential health benefits.
🥘Kaffir Lime Leaves (ใบมะกรูด - bai má-grùud)
Kaffir lime leaves are famous for their strong citrus smell and taste. They give a fresh, zesty scent similar to lime, lemon, and a hint of flowers. Unlike regular limes, kaffir lime leaves have a special and unique taste that’s hard to replace. It is a key ingredient in soups such as ต้มยำ (Dtôm-yam) and ต้มข่าไก่ (Dtôm-kàa Gài), contributing to the distinctive taste and aroma.
🥘Chilies (พริก - prík)
The term in British English and in Australia, New Zealand, India, Malaysia and other Asian countries is just “chilli” without “pepper”. The renowned spiciness of Thai food comes mainly from this chili. There are 5 types of chili used in Thai food, of which the hottest one is called พริกขี้หนูสวน – prík kîi nǔu sǔuan (garden mouse-dropping chili). Thai chilies are used both fresh and dried.
🥘Galangal (ข่า - kàa)
Galangal is sometimes referred to as Thai or Siamese Ginger. It has a sharp, peppery flavor and is often mistaken for ginger. Galangal is a key ingredient in Thai spicy soups and curries. It is the main ingredient in ต้มข่าไก่ (Dtôm-kàa Gài) – a coconut milk-based soup featuring galangal prominently, lending it a slightly spicy and tangy taste.
🥘Tamarind Paste (มะขามเปียก - má-kǎam-bpìiak)
Tamarind paste is made from the tamarind fruit, which has a sweet and tangy flavor. It’s a staple ingredient in Thai cuisine, adding depth and complexity to various dishes by balancing out savory and spicy elements. If you are a fan of ผัดไทย (Pàd Thai), you may still recall the balanced flavors of the sauce used in this well-known Thai dish, which is contributed to by tamarind paste.
🥘Coconut Milk (กะทิ - gà-tí)
Coconut milk is a key ingredient in Thai cuisine, adding a rich and creamy texture to many dishes. If you love Thai curries, you may also recall the contribution of coconut milk in those curries, such as แกงเขียวหวาน (Green Curry), แกงเผ็ด (Red Curry), and แกงมัสมั่น (Mássàmàn Curry). Coconut milk. Coconut milk is also a popular ingredient in Thai desserts, such as ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง (Sticky Rice with Mango) and สังขยา (Sangkaya) or a Thai custard.
🥘Holy Basil (กะเพรา - gà-prao)
Raise your hand if you have not tried our ผัดกะเพรา (Pàd Gà-prao)! This classic dish is named after holy basil and features it prominently, providing a fragrant and flavorful kick. Many people come to Thailand with this dish among the top of their ‘must-do’ list in Thailand. Holy basil can also be found in other Thai dishes such as ผัดฉ่า (pàd chàa) and spicy soups.
Below is a quick guide to our 8 common Thai ingredients with some sample dishes you may want to try:
Where to Find These Ingredients
In Thailand, you can find all these ingredients at every fresh market, and supermarket. Morning markets in all provinces have these ingredients for those who enjoy walking along in the early morning, shopping for fresh foods, vegetables, and fruits like the locals.
If you’re outside Thailand, you can still find these essential ingredients in various places:
- Asian Grocery Stores – Most cities have specialty Asian markets that carry Thai ingredients.
- Online Retailers – Websites like Amazon and specialty Asian food stores offer dried or preserved versions.
- Local Supermarkets – Some mainstream supermarkets now carry Thai essentials in their international sections.
- Grow Your Own – If you love Thai cooking, consider growing herbs like Thai holy basil and lemongrass at home!
How to Manage Allergies to Thai Ingredients
Thai food is flavorful but can contain common allergens.
If you have food allergies, it is important to know how to navigate Thai cuisine safely. Here are some tips:
- Communicate Clearly – When eating out, learn how to say your allergy in Thai:
“I am allergic to seafood” = “ฉัน/ผมแพ้อาหารทะเล” (Chǎn/Pǒm páae aa-hǎan tá-lee)
“I am allergic to shrimp” = “ฉัน/ผมแพ้กุ้ง” (Chǎn/Pǒm páae gûng)
“I am allergic to peanut” = “ฉัน/ผมแพ้ถั่ว” (Chǎn/Pǒm páae tùua)
- Ask for modifications – When ordering in Thailand, you can say:
“Can I have it without …?” = “ไม่ใส่… ได้ไหม (Mâi sài …… dâai mǎi?)”
So, if you are allergic to peanut and you want it without peanut, you can say:
“ไม่ใส่ถั่วได้ไหม ฉัน/ผมแพ้ถั่ว (Mâi sài tùua dâai mǎi? Chǎn/Pǒm páae tùua)
📝 Note:
If you have a seafood allergy, be particularly careful, as shrimp paste and fish sauce are common in Thai dishes.
- Check food labels – Many Thai sauces and pastes contain fish, shrimp, or nuts, so always read labels carefully.
- Bring allergy cards – If you have a severe allergy, carrying a Thai-language allergy card can help you communicate your dietary restrictions clearly.
Summary
Starting to learn Thai language and food is like discovering a world full of flavors and culture. Knowing these common Thai ingredients will not only make you a better cook but also help you understand Thai culture and language better.
So, why not visit your local Asian market, get these ingredients, and begin cooking? Your taste buds and Thai language skills will be happy!
If you’re keen to learn more about Thai cooking and culture, check out Banana Thai School’s online courses and Private Lessons where you can explore the Thai language and cuisine in an engaging way!
Happy cooking and enjoy your Thai food journey!
