Want to cook authentic Thai dishes at home? You can easily do so if you have access to Thai sauces that are commonly used in Thai recipes.
Many of the popular and beloved Thai sauces are available in various Asian markets and select specialty stores all across the globe. Alternatively, you can also prepare them yourself if you have the right ingredients. In this guide, we will introduce you to some of the commonly used best Thai sauces that you can use in cooking delicious and savory dishes.
Pad Thai Sauce
While visiting your favorite Thai restaurant, you might have noticed that they are serving Pad Thai. This rice noodles dish is a staple in many Thai restaurants around the world. As Pad Thai is a stir-fry dish, cooking time could take less than 10 minutes especially if you already have a homemade Pad Thai sauce handy. You can make this delicious sauce using tamarind paste, chilies, dried shrimp, and palm sugar. All you have to do is mix all the ingredients over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
Peanut Sauce
Peanut sauce is a Thai sauce that is predominantly sweet, with a hint of bitterness and sourness. This Thai sauce is made of peanut butter, sweetener (brown sugar or honey), soy sauce, ginger, vinegar, sesame seeds, water, and chili if you want a spicy sauce. Traditionally, coconut milk is used instead of water but if this is not available, water will do. This sauce is great for salads, noodles, tofu, and as a dipping for vegetables.
Thai Chilli Sauce
Also known as Asian sweet chili sauce, this Thai sauce is sweet, tangy, savory, and spicy. It is popularly sold in many grocery stores but if you can’t find one that suits your taste, you can easily prepare it at home. Thai chili sauce is made of ingredients you may already have in your pantry. You can prepare it using chilies, fresh vinegar, sugar, and fresh ginger. For the chili, it’s best to use pickled red chili, but if this is not available, you can substitute it for chili flakes. This Thai sauce is best for steamed dumplings, veggie spring rolls, wontons, and even french fries.
Nam Chim Kai (Sweet Chilli Sauce)
Nam Chim Kai is a traditional sweet chili sauce, usually made with a combination of chili flakes, garlic, lime juice, white wine vinegar, brown sugar, rice wine, and water. The ingredients are simmered in a saucepan until the sauce thickens and develops the consistency of runny syrup or honey.
Nam Phrik
Nam Phrik is a kind of Thai sauce with several variants depending on various regions of Thailand. However, the basic sauce recipe requires the use of fresh lime juice, garlic, fish sauce, and some seasonings to make a homemade namphrik.
Nam ChimChaeo
If you are looking for a delicious dipping sauce, the Nam ChimChaeo is one of the best options available. Its taste is a combination of spicy, sweet, sour, and salty with a slightly sticky texture.
The ingredients needed to make this Thai dipping sauce include toasted sticky rice, fish sauce, lime juice, palm sugar, and dried chilies. It is an easy recipe that you can easily make as long as you have fresh ingredients.
Whether you are craving Thai noodles or curry dishes, these Thai sauces will help elevate the flavor of your food.
