Thai Rice – ข้าว – kâao
Rice is the staple food for Thais, eaten with most meals, from breakfast to dessert. In fact, in the Thai language, if you say you are hungry or you want to eat you literally say “I want to eat rice.” It’s should be unsurprising to learn then that Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of rice and that Thai rice includes many types, each of which has its own characteristic and flavour.
The most esteemed Thai rice is Jasmine Rice, sweet-smelling long-grain rice that is indigenous to Thailand. Served steamed, jasmine rice is the finest rice to accompany most dishes, including Thai curries.
kâao-sǔay
While Jasmine rice is the most coveted, it is also the most expensive. Consequently, most restaurants serve kâao-sǔay, “beautiful rice”, a plain white variety that grows in abundance and is consumed with all style of entrée.
kâao-pàt / Fried Rice
Kâao-pàt or “fried rice” is made with fried with pork(mǔu) or chicken(gài), typically with leftover kâao-sǔay, so as not to waste leftover rice that is a bit “stale”.
kâao-dtôm
Kâao-dtôm is a popular breakfast dish, a salty porridge-like soup that is cooked with pork(mǔu) and garlic(grà-tiam).
1.sôm dtam 2.kâao-nǐaw 3.gài yâang
kâao-nǐaw má-mûang
Kâao-nǐaw, “sticky rice” is eaten by hand when served with dishes of northeastern influence, such as grilled chicken(gài yâang) and spicy papaya salad (sôm dtam); however, sticky rice is a crucial ingredient in a favourite Thai dessert, sticky rice and mango(kâao-nǐaw má-mûang).
Hope you enjoy eating and learning Thai with us:)
Prae
Thai Language Teacher
