The art of preparing, cooking and eating Thai food is traditionally quite regimented in its strict adherence to the use of very specific ingredients and preparation processes. Deviating from that which is set in stone by substituting the likes of Thai eggplant - in a dish such as ‘Geang Khiaw Wan’ (Green Curry) - for chopped pieces of long egg plant, would be regarded as culinary sacrilege, not only by the Thai food connoisseur, but also by the average Thai food vendor and home cooks alike.
Thai Cooking Class
In an effort to learn a little about Thai cooking and Thai culture, the Thai food enthusiast may venture to take a few Thai cooking classes from an experienced Thai mentor, which really includes anyone of Thai origin. For most Thai people, having knowledge of their countries culinary tradition - and proficiency in its practice - is a matter of national pride that sits alongside being able to recite the Thai alphabet and singing along with the Thai National Anthem.
Thai Cooking Lesson
After little effort on the part of the Thai food enthusiast, the services of a benevolent Thai cooking mentor are secured and the menu to practise decided; the world famous ‘Pad Thai’ (Thai Fried Noodles). With spirits high, the Thai food enthusiast unpacks the ingredients, at which point the Thai cooking lesson takes a turn for the worse!
Authentic Pad Thai
On close examination of the ingredients for the ‘Pad Thai’ dish, the Thai cooking mentor notices lemons, but no limes, vinegar, but no tamarind and egg noodles, but no rice noodles. Catastrophe! The Thai food enthusiast explains that there were no limes or tamarind left in the supermarket and that rice noodles are not his preferred type of noodle. He continues to suggest that the dish should taste okay with lemon and vinegar and that egg noodles have more nutritional value than rice noodles.
‘Not possible’, the atypical response of the Thai mentor.
The Thai food enthusiast incredulously implores the Thai food mentor to allow for, ‘a little creativity’, and ‘a little culinary evolution that may even enhance the flavour of the dish’!
Steadily descending in the quiet opinion of the Thai mentor, the Thai food enthusiast is presented with a second resoundingly categorical, ‘not possible’!
Suffering from the effects of an empty stomach and the desire to see the wok in full action, the Thai food enthusiast defiantly exclaims, ‘what difference will it really make if we just change the ingredients a little bit’? Having now reached the dirt in the opinion of the Thai food mentor, the Thai food enthusiast continues with the final blow by adding, ‘I mean we’re just talking about an itty-bitty squeeze of lemon, a little splash of vinegar and a few non-offensive egg noodles’! At which point the Thai food enthusiast is shown respectfully to the door, bid goodnight and directed to the pavement beyond.
Contemplating his empty stomach and the abrupt ending of his first Thai cooking class, the Thai food enthusiast is left with a baffled feeling that he has not only offended his Thai mentor, but also the whole Thai nation.
The moral of the story: to avoid the possibility of offending a nation and for the best time honoured Thai cooking results; learn how to cook authentic Thai Food! For this and further Thai cooking guidance, follow the links for related Thai cooking article:
- Thai Home Cooking - Essentials for Cooking Authentic Thai Food in a Western Kitchen
- Pad Thai Recipe - Authentic Pad Thai for those who Enjoy the Real Thai Food Experience
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