Thai food has unique layered and complex flavors that differ from other Asian cuisines. The flavors come from using more herbs and spices, including curries. The symphony of flavors in dishes always includes savory and sweet with a bit of saltiness, bitterness, and some elements of spiciness.
The ingredients used to create these complex tastes of one of the world’s favorite cuisines include lime, lemon grass, tamarind, fresh coriander, coconut milk, fruits like mangoes, chilies, and peanut sauce. And then don’t forget the rice, Thailand’s favorite staple.
Even though traditional Thai cuisine incorporates a strong fish sauce made from fermented sardines, dishes usually contain small portions of fish, meat, or chicken. Additionally, Thailand is predominantly Buddhist, meaning you can find many recipes geared toward a vegetarian or vegan way of life. However, turning these dishes into the best vegan Thai food is easy with the right ingredients and spice blends.
Top Vegan Thai Dishes
When thinking of the top vegan Thai dishes, you probably dream of a delicious red or green curry, pad thai, and a delicious noodle soup with a flavorful broth. These are only a smattering of the most popular recipes where you get the complete balance of Thai flavors with the creative use of plant-based ingredients.
Forks Over Knives provides 19 Thai-inspired recipes that brilliantly showcase the flavors of Thai cuisine without using animal-based products. These recipes guarantee that you will put the best vegan Thai food forward for everyone.
Try them all. They are easy to prepare and delicious, especially the Easy Curry Noodles With Veggies, Thai Vegetable Noodle Soup, and the Thai Basil Eggplant. Also, make the Light Thai Peanut Dressing, a dipping sauce or salad dressing, and the sensational Thai Red Curry Sauce for drizzling over rice or noodles.
Delicious Vegan Thai Recipes
Thai food maintains its unique flavor profile while merging different flavors and ingredients from neighboring countries, creating a complex and diverse cuisine. Therefore, to the north, the distinctive curry soup comes from influences in that region, while in the northeast, Laotian influence makes dill their main herb, while in the rest of Thailand, it’s cilantro.
In the south, Thai food draws influences from Malaysian and Indonesian cuisine, making curries very popular. However, Bangkok, a city long known for its vibe, is situated in central Thailand, and many of the better-known dishes come from this region, including Pad Thai and green curry.
If you want to stay true to Thai cuisine’s delicious tastes without compromising your plant-based diet, try these recipes from Food Revolution Network. The best vegan Thai food starts here with Tofu Satay Skewers, Tofu Pad Thai, Tom Kha Soup, and the exotic Sticky Black Rice with Mango dessert.
Vegan Thai Food at its Finest
Authentic Thai food requires some essential ingredients that aren’t always plant-based. However, you can replace animal protein with tofu, mushrooms, and jackfruit to make the best vegan Thai food. Tamari and soy sauce allow you to get the umami flavor without using fish sauce. You can also make vegan fish sauce with shiitake mushrooms, seaweed, miso, and salt. See this easy recipe from Utopia.
Use these ingredients with commonly used Thai herbs, spices, and condiments like lemon grass, cilantro, galangal, coconut milk, lime juice, and curry pastes to create vegan Thai food at its finest. You can create flavorful Pad Thai, Keng Lueang (yellow curry), the spicier red curry known as Gaeng Daeng, and delicious Thai fried rice with these ingredients.
Unforgettable Vegan Thai Cuisine
Today, Thai cuisine has become more Westernized over time, with recipes now including fish, chicken, and meat, but the country predominantly followed a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle in the past.
In Thailand, they call dishes that are plant-based or can be made vegan jey. These dishes remain unforgettable thanks to the use of several vegetables, herbs, and spices. Browse through these recipes from The Spruce Eats to find some delicious ideas for Thai foods, including the Vegan Thai-style Spring Rolls and the refreshing 10-minute Thai Cucumber salad.
Exploring the Best Vegan Thai Options
Most Thai restaurants have a selection of vegan options for you to enjoy. However, you will need a selection of recipes to enjoy homemade vegan Thai food. Several online bloggers have ideas to ensure you cook the best vegan Thai or Thai-inspired food using flavorful ingredients.
Here are some dishes with a flavor explosion from Full of Planets that you will want to cook regularly. Create dishes like the refreshing Thai Mango Salad, the Curried Spinach Soup with Cashew Tempeh, the Spicy Thai Flaxseed Wraps, and the tasty 15-minute Thai Peanut Jackfruit Noodles. These satisfying dishes are a must for exploring the best vegan Thai options.
Easy Vegan Thai Food Ideas
Most Thai food is easy to prepare. However, if you are in a rush and want an easy recipe packed with flavors, you cannot go wrong with a green curry using a good-quality store-bought green curry paste.
Here’s a recipe for the Thai Green Curry that everyone will enjoy, making this the best vegan Thai food when you’re looking for something quick and easy to prepare:
Easy Vegan Green Thai Curry
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons Thai green curry paste
- 5 minced garlic cloves
- 1-inch minced piece of ginger or galangal
- 2 grated fresh lemongrass stalks
- One 14-ounce block of firm or extra firm tofu, excess water removed, and cubed
- ½ tablespoon sea salt
- 1 and ½ can of full-fat coconut milk
- 1 cup vegetable broth or water
- 8 kaffir lime leaves, crushed with hands to release flavor or freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 tablespoon brown or coconut sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce or tamari sauce
- About three cups of vegetables of choice like snow peas, green beans, bamboo shoots, eggplants (prefer Asian varieties because others won’t soften),
- 1 sliced red bell pepper
- 1 cup Thai basil leaves, torn if very big, plus more for garnish
- Red chile peppers sliced thinly for garnish (optional)
- Cooked rice to serve (jasmine white rice or brown rice)
Instructions
- Boil the tofu in a saucepan with water you have brought to a boil, and then add the sea salt. Once the water returns to a boil, time the boil for two minutes, and then gently drain the tofu. You can also fry or bake the tofu cubes, but then you will only add them to the curry toward the end when you add the final flavorings.
- Heat a deep pan over medium-high heat. Then add about a third of a cup of the coconut milk, letting it cook for about 1 ½ minutes until the oil separates. It might not separate, but this is fine.
- Add curry paste, garlic, ginger, and lemongrass and cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently. The curry paste must dry out slightly, but don’t let it stick. If necessary, use water to deglaze the saucepan.
- Pour in the remaining coconut milk. Add lime leaves, sugar, and soy sauce, bringing the curry to a rapid simmer. It will start to thicken – about four minutes.
- At this point, gently toss the tofu into the saucepan. Follow with the vegetables and broth. Stir, partially cover the pan, and rapidly simmer for about 8 minutes or until the vegetables are perfectly done.
- At this pint, taste and add more soy sauce or sugar if needed. Remove the lime leaves or add the lime juice if you didn’t use the lime leaves. Stir in Thai basil. Let the curry stand for about 20 minutes before serving with the rice. Garnish with extra basil and chili. Remember that the chili is optional, or you can use a milder version.
Must-Try Vegan Thai Delights
The abundance of fruit, vegetables, flavorful herbs, and distinct spices used in Thai cooking makes it easy to omit the meat. Use this abundance of plant-based products to spotlight the best vegan Thai food to accompany the traditional rice and noodles.
Some must-try delights that are usually vegan or easy to make vegan include green papaya salad, fresh spring rolls, green mango salad, various forms of Thai curry, tofu satay coated in delicious peanut curry sauce, easy stir fries with noodles and vegetables, and the ever-popular pad Thai. Don’t omit to try the hot and sour Thai Soup known as tom yum (recipe from The Foodie Takes Flight) or the deliciously spicy and sweet pineapple fried rice (from Vegan Huggs).
Vegan Thai Food: A Flavorful Journey
Even when not using animal ingredients, you can still make the best vegan Thai food thanks to the many flavors and spices used in Thai cuisine.
If you have traveled through Thailand, you will know that some of the most popular traditional dishes are vegan, including Pad Thai, Massaman Curry, and Mango Sticky Rice. That’s because the predominantly Buddhist population respects living beings. However, please don’t take it for granted that all Thai food is vegan, whether traveling there or eating out in your home country, because some foods contain hidden ingredients like fish sauce and some meat, chicken, or fish. Therefore, make a point of getting your preferences known and understood before ordering.
Now that you know more about vegan Thai food, you can embark on a flavorful journey by trying the above recipes, which are packed with the delicious ingredients of vibrant Thai culture and its exciting cuisine.
Embracing Vegan Thai Cuisine: A Beginner’s Guide
Thai cuisine is celebrated globally for its intriguing balance of flavors—salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy—all mingling beautifully in each dish. This complexity is achieved through various herbs and spices, with lime, lemongrass, tamarind, coriander, and coconut milk staples in many recipes. Even as a vegan, you can enjoy the full spectrum of Thai flavors by substituting animal ingredients with plant-based alternatives like tofu and jackfruit.
Key Tips for Vegan Thai Cooking
- Start Simple: Begin with easy recipes like curries and pad thai that use familiar ingredients. This will boost your confidence as you explore more complex dishes.
- Master the Art of Substitution: Learn how to replace fish sauce with vegan alternatives like tamari or a homemade blend of shiitake mushrooms, seaweed, and miso to capture that umami flavor.
- Focus on Freshness: Thai cuisine is best enjoyed with fresh ingredients. Make frequent trips to your local market to pick up fresh herbs, spices, and vegetables.
Must-Try Vegan Thai Dishes
- Green Curry with Tofu: This creamy, spicy curry is both filling and comforting. For the best flavor, use a good-quality green curry paste and plenty of coconut milk.
- Tom Yum Soup: This hot and sour soup can easily be vegan by omitting fish sauce and adding extra mushrooms and tomatoes for depth.
- Mango Sticky Rice: This dessert combines the sweetness of ripe mangoes with the richness of coconut milk for a sweet treat.
Takeaways for Enjoying Vegan Thai Food
- Be Creative: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different vegetables and spices. Thai cuisine is all about balance and harmony, so feel free to adjust the ingredients to suit your taste.
- Ask Questions: When dining out, always ask about dish ingredients. Not all Thai dishes are automatically vegan, so it’s important to communicate your dietary restrictions.
- Enjoy the Process: Cooking Thai food can be a therapeutic and enjoyable. Take your time to savor the aromas and flavors as you cook.
Thai food offers a delightful culinary adventure for vegans. With its rich flavors and versatile ingredients, you can create a myriad of dishes that satisfy your taste buds and adhere to a plant-based lifestyle. So, dive in and explore the vibrant world of vegan Thai cuisine!
