Top Reasons For the Rising Popularity Of Thai Food In Western World
The popularity of Thai cuisine is because of 2 basic reasons, which are, variety and intensity of its flavors. When you combine other aspects like ingredients used and the skills of the chef who is preparing the dish, then you get food that can be considered incredibly healthy too.
The ingredients that make up the most popular Thai dishes include tofu, seafood, and bean sprouts. These are well-known for their nutritional value. To top it up, the Thai meals served at the infamous Little Thai Kitchen Midtown East also comprise of non-starchy vegetables, which are a rich source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Thai food is gradually coming into the mainstream, but there are still thousands of people who are new to Thai Food. And when the first timers go to a Thai Restaurant to try out new dishes, the menu can be a bit intimidating. Some of the main dishes served in Thai restaurants include noodles, soups, and fried rice. And these dishes are further divided into sub-dishes, which feature different flavors, styles, and names.
Ingredients Used Are Natural
Why Thai food is a favorite of Westerners and Asians alike is mainly owing to the natural ingredients that go into assembling healthy, traditional Thai dishes. If studies have to be believed, all the natural ingredients used for cooking Thai foods have also been used to treat a varied range of ailments for thousands of years.
Thai food makes extensive use of traditional herbs and spices, which have been scientifically proven as healthy ingredients for eating.
Let’s review the top 3 ingredients that are used the most when cooking Thai meals, which are even said to have healing properties and can help treat different ailments.
Turmeric
Turmeric is enriched by Curcumin, a well-known anti-inflammatory agent, that can help control the symptoms of allergic reactions. Moreover, the same property also helps heal arthritis, including any other condition that is directly the result of an inflammation.
Cooking Method and Skills
Simply including all the healthy ingredients when preparing Thia food doesn’t make the dish a healthy preparation. A very key role is played by the method used in cooking and the skills of the chef. At Little Thai Kitchen Midtown East the food is prepared on high heat to help preserve all the natural flavors of the herbs. To put it simply, the use of oil is kept very low even when cooking stir-fried dishes,
In the beginning, a small amount of oil is poured into the wok, followed by mixing in a broth that prevents the dish from becoming dry. That means cooking involves very less use of oils, while the ingredients stay fresh. Thus, Thai food is crisper, with a light flavor far less heavy than other Asian dishes.
Galangal
This is the same species as ginger, with almost all of the same health benefits, the most conspicuous one being promoting digestion.
Coriander
Coriander is full of phosphorus, calcium, potassium, carotene, and niacin, all are said to improve blood sugar levels and boost immunity. Which in turn improves cardiovascular well-being, while aiding digestion and improving kidney functioning.
Balanced Diet
Thai foods also supply the essential macronutrients such as protein, fats, and carbohydrates in a balanced amount. All of these have their own health benefits.
Moreover, the other staple Thai dishes, including curries, stir-fries, and broths, are prepared using different vegetables. Also added to the dishes are tofu, lean meat, or seafood, all protein sources. The dishes also have other natural ingredients like coconut milk, peanut sauces, and some fats. On top of that, some of the routinely used vegetables in Thai dishes are peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, and onions. All of these veggies are starchless and promote health.
Not to mention, the Thai dishes are loaded with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and a whole host of compounds. All these aid in digestion and support overall well-being.
The Sum Up
To sum up, Thailand is not just famous as a tourist hub, but some other reasons have contributed to making it a prominent country on the world map. One reason for its popularity in the Western world is the unique and gorgeous blend of flavors in their food. Accompanied by the versatility of its cuisine, which is wide-ranging and covers curries and desserts. As the taste varies from sweet to spicy, there are dishes that can tingle the taste buds of different individuals with different tastes. In addition to that, the Thai food served at Little Thai Kitchen Midtown East is appreciated for its naturalness and significant amount of health benefits. To say it simply, Thai dishes are healthy. The sweet taste of its desserts is not because of the chemicals, or sugar like in cuisines from other regions, including China. Rather, the sweetness originates from the source, which is natural.