7 of the Hottest Dishes of Thailand

Thai food is famous all over the world for its spicy dishes. The eye-watering delicacies might well have steam coming out of your ears, but that doesn’t make them any less delicious, and can be cooked up at home so that you can adjust the heat to preference. There are various specialities all over the country, varying from region to region, but the Northern part of the country is renowned for its spicy food. Whether you’re looking to experiment with different oriental cuisines or you’re a lover of all things chilli and want to try the spiciest of them all, we’ve created a list of seven dishes that’s bound to make even the most seasoned of spicy food enthusiasts a little watery around the eyes.

Tom Yum Kung

Yum by name, yum by nature, Thailand’s much-loved soup consists mainly of stock, fried chilli, chilli paste, galangal and lemongrass. The fiery red-orange colour is telling of the spice level to come, and this soup is not recommended for those who aren’t used to Thai levels of spice, but it’s sure to make you feel better if you have a cold this winter, warming you from the inside, out!

Gaeng Tai Pla

Often hailed the spiciest of them all, anyone contemplating ordering this dish at a Thai restaurant or cooking at home should not take the decision lightly. Typical ingredients include dried chillies, turmeric, galangal, pumpkin, aubergine, fish innards, fish, beans and bamboo sheets, all of which create an acquired taste that is both spicy and salty. This dish is renowned in Thailand, and locals take great pleasure in watching tourists attempt to eat – and enjoy – the dish.

Pad Prik

With cuts of pork, chicken, beef and fish cooked alongside a variety of vegetables, spices and, of course, chillies, Pad Prik has certainly got some heat that will leave you reaching for more rice. Spice levels aside, this is a delicious dish that is full of flavour, and if you’re worried about the heat, you can substitute the chillies for peppers.

Green Curry

Green curry can be ordered in chicken, beef or vegetable varieties and is the hottest of them all, beating its red and yellow counterparts. The paste for the curry is made purely from green peppers, which partially explains its heat, and together with a dash of coconut milk, Thai eggplant and loads of other ingredients it makes the spiciest curry available in Thailand. Thai restaurants have a tendency to ignore requests for a milder version, so shop for oriental supermarket food and cook at home to at least partially control heat levels.

Gaeng Som

Chances are you’ll smell this tongue-tingling dish before you see it, as this curry from southern Thailand has a particularly distinctive scent. The orange-coloured curry takes on a similar appearance to soup and is made from shrimp paste and bird’s eye chillies, both of which contribute to its spice and colouring. The dish usually features shrimp or fish and is typically served with rice. The liquid nature of the curry means that the accompanying rice will soon soak up the spices, leaving the feint-hearted with no escape from the heat.

Som Tam

A papaya salad and then some, don’t be lulled into a false sense of security by the use of the word ‘salad’. This dish can be seriously fiery, and varies in heat depending on who has prepared it, so trying at home first is highly recommended for the more spice-sensitive amongst us. The papaya is unripe to create a tangy taste, and is combined with fish sauce, lime juice, salt, coconut sugar and a handful of extra hot chillies. The combination of these flavours create a taste sensation that anyone will enjoy, but again eating out means things could get very hot very quickly – don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Gaeng Kua Kling

A dry curry that is easy to cook at home, this dish features a curry paste consisting of chilli, pepper, lemongrass, turmeric, garlic, galangal, salt and shrimp paste, which is then added to the meat that is already cooking. This dish is usually made with pork, chicken, fish or beef and served with rice, so you can adjust to preference. The dry nature of the curry makes it an uncommon heat that even the most experienced chilli-lovers may struggle with. Are you, or any of your family and friends up for the challenge?

We hope you’ve enjoyed this insight into some of the spiciest dishes in Thailand, and that perhaps we have encouraged you to give some of them a go for the next dinner party, although you may need to swap wine for milk once the dishes are served! If you decide to try and create any one of these dishes at home, don’t forget to buy the most authentic Thai ingredients online with us! Browse at your leisure and have them delivered straight to your door so you can spice things up in the kitchen straightaway!