Learning Thai cooking can be a delightful and rewarding experience. Thai cuisine is known for its balance of five fundamental taste senses: sour, sweet, salty, bitter, and spicy. Here are some steps and tips to help you get started:

Essential Ingredients

1. Herbs and Spices:

   • Lemongrass
   • Galangal
   • Kaffir lime leaves
   • Thai basil
   • Cilantro

2. Sauces and Pastes:

   • Fish sauce
   • Soy sauce
   • Oyster sauce
   • Shrimp paste
   • Red/green/yellow curry paste

3. Others:

   • Coconut milk
   • Tamarind paste
   • Palm sugar
   • Rice (jasmine, sticky)
   • Fresh chillies (bird’s eye chillies)

Basic Techniques

1. Stir-frying: Common in many Thai dishes, use a hot wok and keep ingredients moving.
2. Pounding: Using a mortar and pestle to blend and release flavours from spices and herbs.
3. Simmering: Essential for curries and soups, to blend flavours.

Classic Thai Dishes to Try

1. Pad Thai: Stir-fried rice noodles with shrimp or chicken, egg, tofu, peanuts, bean sprouts, and a tangy tamarind sauce.
2. Tom Yum Goong: A hot and sour soup with shrimp, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and mushrooms.
3. Green Curry: A spicy and aromatic curry made with green curry paste, coconut milk, chicken, and vegetables.
4. Som Tum (Papaya Salad): A spicy salad made from shredded unripe papaya, tomatoes, green beans, and peanuts.
5. Massaman Curry: A rich and slightly sweet curry made with beef or chicken, potatoes, peanuts, and massaman curry paste.