DELUXE TRAVELLER

Traditional Thai hot pot is perfect for a fun, sociable meal

Bursting with exciting and vibrant flavours, Thailand’s impressive culinary repertoire offers a wealth of tasty dishes to tempt travellers. From the satisfying heaviness of noodle and rice dishes to the hot tang of the country’s must-have curries, there’s plenty to choose from.

If you’re on the lookout for something warm, nourishing and full of flavour, why not give one of Thailand’s soups a try? While dishes like tom yam and tom kha are well known across the globe, the Kingdom’s alluring gastronomic collection of dishes offers plenty more soup-based delights. Whether you’re in the mood for something with a spicy kick, or a nourishing bowl of goodness to banish your jet lag, there’s a soup to suit every occasion.

As soup features so prominently on Thai menus, there’s plenty of places to try them too, from high-end restaurants to locally-run family eateries and street food stalls. If you’re staying in one of Thailand’s luxury private villas, you could even ask the property’s on-site chef to whip up a steaming pot of your favourite broth.

We’ve rounded up a selection of our favourite Thai soups to tantalise your taste buds.

Classic choices

Tom kha gai is creamy and delicious

No article about tasty Thai soups would be complete without a mention of the two classic choices – tom yam goong and tom kha gai. In fact, many people probably consider tom yam to be the ultimate flavour that embodies Thai cuisine. The soup is a perfect example of the delicate balance of flavours in Thai cooking. Lemongrass, galangal, chillies, kaffir lime leaves and onions are boiled together to create the spicy yet sour broth. Coconut milk is added to give the dish its creamy texture, tomatoes for extra tang and prawns or mushrooms for protein. If you want the version of the soup without coconut milk, look out for tom yum nam sai.

Tom kha gai is the other quintessential Thai soup that you’ll see on the menus of Thai restaurants around the world. Often served alongside rice, many people enjoy this dish as more of a curry than a coup. Slightly less sour than tom yum, extra coconut milk is added for irresistible creaminess. Chicken is the typical protein addition, and the whole bowl is topped with a generous scattering of fragrant coriander.

Sour sensation

Gaeng som is bursting with sweet and sour flavours

If you’re craving Thailand’s unmistakeably sour and tangy flavours, look no further than a bowl of gaeng som. This popular soup dish comes in a number of variations and styles, so you might find that it tastes different and features different ingredients depending on where you eat it. In Bangkok, the broth is typically red in colour, bursting with an almost sweet flavour, and filled with fresh prawns. However, in southern Thailand you should expect the addition of plenty more chillies that imbue the dish with a fiery flavour. Other ingredients include turmeric root and lots of garlic. The result? An enticing and aromatic broth that will delight your taste buds right down to the very last spoonful.

Isaan favourite

Tom saap is the soup of choice in Thailand’s northeaster region

The northeastern part of Thailand is well known for its diverse and delectable dishes. This part of Thailand gets little rain and has cooler temperatures, so you’ll notice a big difference between Isaan cuisine and the fare you’d get in southern Thailand. In fact, Isaan food tends to be saltier, spicier and sourer than food produced across the rest of the country.

Tom saap is the region’s favourite soup dish. Boiled fish or pork forms the flavour base for the broth, to which lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves are added. Typical ingredients to discover in your steaming bowl of tom saap might also include spring onions and mushrooms, with a fiery kick coming from red chillies.

Southern delight

Soup neua contains beef, and is popular in Southern Thailand

As a rule, beef isn’t something you’re likely to see featured extensively on menus across Thailand. The exception would be southern Thailand, where the large Muslim population means that pork isn’t consumed, so beef is eaten instead in some dishes. That’s why you’ll notice a delectable beef soup – soup neua – on menus across this region. The meat is boiled until tender to create the broth and protein portion of the dish. Beefy and comforting, this is a homely bowl you’re sure to keep coming back to. Additional ingredients including chillies, lime juice and onions, added for extra flavour.

Healthy option

Gaeng jued is packed with nutrients

If too many creamy curries and soups have caused the waistline on your shorts to feel a little too tight, a healthy soup like gaeng jued is an excellent option. In English, geng jurt translates roughly to ‘plain soup’. However, this soup is anything but plain. This substantial vegetable soup is still incredibly satisfying, despite its ‘healthy’ reputation, and is packed with carrots, cabbage and onions. Noodles, pork or tofu can also be added, depending on how you like the flavour. While it is bursting with flavour, gaeng jued is substantially less spicy than other soups and curries. So, if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by too much fiery food, this can be a smart solution to give your digestive system a break from the heat.

Street food special

Jim jum is the quintessential Thai hotpot classic

Hot pot is a classic street food classic in Thailand. Jim jum is a fantastic meal to dig into with your friends and family whilst on holiday, whether you’re savouring the taste in a local eatery or at your private villa. A steaming hot clay pot of broth is placed in the middle of the table, and is used to cook an array of fresh vegetables. Sometimes, you can even add pork, eggs and mung bean noodles to inject the dish with new textures and flavours, personalising it to fit your taste. The best part is, the broth is light and the dish is packed with vegetables, so you’re loading up on nutritious vitamins and minerals, too.

Sensational side dish

Cha om, Thai omelette, is often served alongside gaeng som soup

In the West, soup is traditionally enjoyed with bread. In the East, it’s often paired with rice. However, gaeng som often comes with a more unusual side dish – cha om. This delectable golden omelette combines tender acacia tree sprouts with eggs, fried into a crispy disk of deliciousness. It’s the perfect complement to gaeng som, and often served with a small dish of shrimp paste chilli sauce on the side.

TIPS

If you’re feeling adventurous, here are a few more exciting Thai regional  classics:

• Snakehead fish soup (gaeng som pla) is not for the faint of heart. The fish is deep fried and served in a bowl of sweet and sour soup.

• Chicken noodle soup (kuay teow gai) is another street food favourite. The gorgeous savoury broth is bursting with rich chicken flavour, and the slippery noodles will satisfy your hunger successfully.
• Thai boat noodles (kuay teow reua) are another classic street food dish. The hot soup is mixed with a dash of pig’s blood to create a rich, savoury flavour.