Yes, I said it. Pad Thai is so last season. While it’s still popular with the locals back in Thailand, it’s not eaten every single day. There are so many alternatives that are easy to make at home with ingredients you have in your very kitchen. I’ve selected a few dishes that I would consider Thailand’s best-kept food secrets.
1. Mama Pad
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I guess you could say this is a Thai version of Chinese stir-fry noodles. If you live in a relatively metropolitan area, your local Asian grocery store is sure to have some noodle packets stocked up. But instead of following the instructions and adding hot water, try frying it. Add in some eggs to give it that extra bit of protein and flavor. Trust me on this: once you’ve had a bite you won’t be able to stop. It literally takes 5 minutes to make and just like pizza (or whatever it is you’re craving in the wee hours of the morning post-partying), this dish will surely satisfy your taste buds. But just in case you live in the middle of nowhere, you can order the mama noodle packets online here and then follow these super simple instructions.
2. Som Tum
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This particular dish would require a more intermediary level of skill to but if you’re up to the task and want to try something new then follow these instructions here. You might have heard about it or seen it in a Thai restaurant under the name “green papaya salad” but nothing beats a homemade version. It’s not from Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, but originates from the northeastern region where they like to pair it with sticky rice. For those of you who can handle the spiciness of Thai food, this dish is the perfect choice. In fact, if you weren’t intrigued already watch this video on how they do it old school style using a traditional wooden bowl. Oh, and did I mention that it’s less than 150 calories per serving size?
3. Kai Jiew Moo Sap
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Eggs. Who doesn’t like them? And pancakes. Who doesn’t like those either? Basically, this dish is a combination of both of those things. You’ve definitely eaten scrambled eggs, eggs on toast, eggs Benedict and so on, but this Thai twist will probably blow your mind. Even someone who’s never cooked a day in their life could master it on their first go—it’s that simple. And while kai jiew (which means fried egg in Thailand) is delicious already on its own, that’s only part of the dish. To get what we’re ultimately aiming for, Kai Jiew Moo Sap, you’ll need to add in some minced meat into the mix. Instructions can be found here.