Some Thai Food Terms

Gaeng, curries, generally very hot. There is plenty of liquid in Gaeng khieo wan (green curry) and Gaeng ped (red curry). Gaeng mussaman (Muslim curry) and Gaeng phanaeng (dry curry) have thicker sauces and are slightly milder.

nam prik is a hot sauce with many variations, used to flavour plain rice or as a dipping sauce.

Yam are like salads and invariably contain a small proportion of meat or fish; they are based on vegetables, cellophane noodles, fruits such as the pomelo, and flowers such as banana flowers. Som tam is particularly popular and has green papaya as its main ingredient.