Do you want to try a Thai recipe at home? It is tempting to leave out unfamiliar ingredients. Others may seem impossible to find. However, those herbs and pastes mean a lot. They can make a basic stir-fry or soup, a full-fledged Thai dish.

With the right ingredients, you will be replicating the balance of:

• Sweet
• Salty
• Sour
• Spicy.

These aspects characterize Thai cuisine. That said, here are some must-haves:

Fish sauce

The smell of fish sauce can be strong. But let that not scare you. This is the secret ingredient for many dishes. It is a salty and savory substance. You don’t have to buy a lot of it. Even a drizzle is enough. It can make ordinary noodles or vegetables very flavorful.

Curry paste

Curry paste comes in a range of colors, including:

• Red
• Green
• Yellow
• Other colors.

Even vegan curry paste options are just as flavorful. They are prepared by pounding together the following:

• Chilies
• Garlic
• Lemongrass
• Galangal
• Spices.

There is nothing wrong with purchasing pre-made curry paste, even within Thai families. It saves you time in the kitchen. When cooking, you only have to:

• Stir-fry the paste with the coconut milk
• Add your favorite meat or vegetables
• Watch the flavors do their things.

Always have a variety of pastes on hand. This way, you can enjoy a delicious curry in just a few minutes.

Coconut milk

Coco milk achieves the following:

• Cools down the spiciness of chili
• Balances salty fish sauce
• Gives the Thai curries their creamy texture.

You can use it to prepare a traditional green curry. It also comes in handy for a sweet dessert such as sticky rice with mango. It is simply the ingredient that harmonizes it all. Get canned or boxed without added sugar so that you may use it both in savory and sweet dishes.

Aromatic herbs and roots

Freshness matters in Thai recipes. Therefore, have some herbs and roots in your pantry or refrigerator. Some examples include:

• The lemon grass imparts a citrusy freshness
• The kaffir lime leaves a floral bite
• Galangal (the cousin of ginger) lends the soups their characteristic richness. For example, the famous tom kha gai soup.

It is important to buy them fresh. Otherwise, most Asian markets offer frozen packs that are just as effective.

Rice and noodles

Jasmine rice is a requirement in any Thai pantry. Its soft, aromatic grains are a perfect match with any food. Noodles are also essential to complete your Thai cooking.

Chili and lime

Lastly, Thai food is known for balance. Stock up on some:

• Dried chili flakes
• Fresh chilies
• Lots of limes.

The spiciness of chili plus the lime juice flavor makes the food pop. A squeeze of lime and a pinch of chili can enhance even the most basic stir fry.

Wrapping it up

With these essentials in your pantry, you will always be ready to make Thai food. Recipes will no longer seem very challenging. You will soon find your house filled with the aroma of a Thai street market, and your food will be as close to Bangkok as it can be.