Thai Herbs in Thai Food : Part 1

Thai food is composed of herbs as the main compositions which refer to plants and vegetables including seasonings and spices. These represent the identity of the Thai food. Spices are used to season the odors, tastes and colors of the foods and as well to prevent the savory of the meat. Moreover, these spices contain various medical characteristics, thus Thai food is appropriate to good health.


Chilli (Prik)
The popular species of chilli used for cooking are hot chilli, red, green and yellow chilli, sweet pepper, etc. which are different in the levels of its spicy tastes. Chilli can be used both fresh and dried or pickling in vinegar and to every dish that requires hot and spicy tastes. Some are used for smelling and reducing savory and as well to color the decoration. 

Medical application
- digestive
- to protect cancer
- carminative
- expectorant
- relief pain
- relief sickness

Food application of Chilli

• Tom Yum Kung
• Tom Yum Kung
• Tom Kha Kai
• Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai
• Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai
• Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai
• Beef Masaman
• Kaeng Liang
• Kai Phad Phed
• Phanaeng Kai
• Phanaeng Kai
• Som Tum
• Phad Thai
• Khao Phad Kra Prao
• Khao Phad Kra Prao
• Nam Ya Pla

Garlic (Kra - Thium)

Garlic is actually important ingredient in Thai food and found in every recipe prior to fry vegetables and meat. It is also unable to be missed in soup and chilli paste and as well spicy salad. This is including the pickled garlic, garlic plants and fried chopped garlic to sprinkle the food. 

Medical application
- carminative
- reduce blood pressure
- prevent heart disease
- antibacterial, fungal, yeast, virus

Food application of Garlic

• Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai
• Beef Masaman
• Kai Phad Phed
• Phanaeng Kai
• Som Tum
• Phad Thai
• Khao Phad Kra Prao
• Nam Ya Pla

Lemon (Ma - Naow)

Lemon juice is used to make sour taste in Tom Yam, Som Tum, Phla, spicy salads and many chilli pastes and as well lemon juice for drink.

Medical application

- expectorant
- carminative
- antiscorbutic 

Food application of Lemon

• Tom Yum Kung
• Tom Kha Kai
• Som Tum

Galangal (Ka)

Galangal is used both its flowers as vegetables and fresh and hard rhizomes. The hard rhizome is very spicy and good to season many recipes of chilli pastes, the fresh rhizome is found good in Tom Kha Kai. 

Medical application
- carminative
- stop the growth of cancer
- antifungal, bacterial and yeast

Food application of Galangal

• Tom Yum Kung
• Tom Kha Kai
• Tom Kha Kai
• Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai
• Beef Masaman
• Kai Phad Phed
• Phanaeng Kai
• Khao Phad Kra Prao
• Nam Ya Pla

Lemon grass (Ta - Krai)

Lemon grass is spicy and bitter and used for seasoning the Thai food and as the main ingredient in every recipe of Kaeng Phed, spicy salads and Tom Yam. 

Medical application

- carminative
- antibacterial, fungal, yeast
- diuretic

Food application of Lemon grass

• Tom Yum Kung
• Tom Kha Kai
• Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai
• Beef Masaman
• Kai Phad Phed
• Phanaeng Kai
• Nam Ya Pla

Thanks : Thaifoodtoworld.com

Posted in: