20 Thai Food Recipes That Bring Culture to Your Kitchen

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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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 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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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 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

 

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 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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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What did you think of these Thai food recipes? Have anything else to share? Let me know in the comments below!