What are Some Non-Spicy Thai Dishes You Must Try?
The versatile Thai kitchen has a number of spicy to ‘very spicy’ dishes by adding the red chili peppers. Not everyone likes the chilliness or there may be some people who are even allergic to those peppers. If you are someone who don’t like spice, but want to try Thai food, there are plenty of Thai dishes that are not sharp.
Forget all dishes that contain the word “yum”. It means spicy salad with the three characteristics: sour, salty and spicy (pungent). “Tom Yum” is an example of this.
Almost all Thai curries, including Massaman and green curry contain (a lot of) chili. Some restaurants, which can be found in the tourist areas, are also familiar with the non-spicy curries, so you’d need to ask for little or no chilly in your dish.
What’s Safe?
There are many non-spicy Thai dishes or I can say “safe” dishes, I will mention a few:
1. Pad Thai
Real pad Thai is made from flat rice noodles. This one is really famous in Hong Kong and is really everywhere on the menu. This specialty is simple but very delicious: fried rice noodles with a lot of egg, tofu, prawns, bean sprouts, spring onion, peanut, lime, and a lot more. The typical pad Thai sauce, of course, based on tamarind. Enthusiasts can also have the prawns replaced with chicken or vegetables.
2. Papaya Salad
I can hear you think: ‘but I don’t like papaya’. A papaya salad is not just papaya, it’s a papaya salad! ‘Som tum’ is made from not yet ripe papaya, which gives the fruit a completely different (better) taste. Then mix with fish sauce, lime, peanut, carrot, chili pepper and possibly a green bean and prawns, and you have the tastiest salad ever. Beware: spicy! Don’t forget to ask for light spice.
3. Massaman Curry
Yellow, green or red curry: you have it all in Hong Kong. But if you want to try an authentic Thai curry, order a Massaman curry. This curry is not only spicy, but also contains potato, lots of onions and beef. So, something different, in a positive sense. Serve with rice and eat until the pan is empty!
4. Chicken with Cashew Nuts
Another ‘entry-level dish’: who doesn’t like chicken with cashew nuts and bell pepper, onion and rice of course, because without them a real ‘kai med ma muang’ is not complete. This Thai classic again sounds simple, but here too the secret lies in the ‘sauce’. The sauce is not really a sauce, but a combination of herbs and other mysterious ingredients that give the dish its delicious flavor. You don’t have other option than to just taste the dish.
5. Tom Yum
Another Thai classic: tom yum is a popular soup that is often eaten as a main course in Hong Kong. Anyway, tom yum is a clear, spicy soup with a sour and a little salt. Ingredients include lemongrass, lime, mushrooms, cilantro and Thai basil. You will often also find prawns in this soup. You will mostly get spicy version of this dish, so again, don’t forget to ask without chilies.
6. Tom Kha Kai
Thailand’s most famous coconut soup and a milder version of tom yum: tom kha kai contains a lot of coconut milk, ginger, lemongrass and chicken. Bamboo shoots, mushrooms, coriander and red pepper are also essential for a complete tom kha kai.
7. Toad Krapow Moo Saap
Pad krapow moo saap, or pork with Thai basil (something different from ‘normal’ basil), is a must. The dish has a unique taste due to the basil, combined with chili peppers, soy sauce and a little sugar. Delicious with steamed white rice. Also, often this dish has beef on the menu as an ingredient!
8. Yam Neua Yang
A light dish for those who have already eaten too many delicious (Thai) dishes. Yam neua yang is a salad of onion (red onion or spring onion), coriander, mint, chili, garlic, lime and — of course — beef. Cucumber and tomato can also sometimes be found on your plate, which makes this light meal even healthier.
9. Thai Spare Ribs
You may already have figured it out, but with the right, typical Thai ingredients, every dish gets that delicious taste of the land of smiles. You can also prepare spare ribs in Thai style, and you will not rarely see them on the menu. Marinate (baby) pork ribs with fish sauce, soy sauce, lemongrass, coconut milk, chili, garlic, ginger and/or honey, and voila… just perfect taste
10. Mango Sticky Rice
Is your mouth watering yet? Or are you feeling full of those delicious, tasty dishes? Time for dessert! Sticky rice with mango is the desert from Thailand but liked a lot in Hong Kong as well. It consists of course — sticky rice and mango. Delicious at any time of the day!
Now, when you know the best Thai dishes to try with non-spicy flavors, what are you waiting for now? Just head on to your favourite Thai restaurant in Tung Chung or wherever you are, and try these out!
