THAI LANGUAGE LESSONS
L17e - Food: Others
| rice | kaow |
| steamed rice | kaow su-ay |
| plain rice | kaow bplao |
| fried rice | kaow pat |
| rice soup | kaow dtom |
| rice porridge | joke |
| sticky rice | kaow nee-ow |
| rice noodles | sen mee (thin strand) |
| rice noodles | sen lek (medium strand) |
| rice noodles | sen yai (wide & flat) |
| soft rice noodles | ka-nom jeen |
| egg noodles | ba-mee |
| dry noodles | ma-ma |
| sauce | nam chim |
| fish sauce | nam plah |
| chilli sauce | nam prik |
| oyster sauce | sauce hoi nahng rom |
| soy sauce | sauce tua leu-ang |
| tomato sauce | sauce ma-keu-a-tayt |
| salt | gleu-a |
| pepper | thai prik |
| egg | kai |
| milk | nom |
| butter | noie |
| flour | bpaeng |
| bread | kanom bpang |
| sugar | nam dtahn |
| cooking oil | nam man |
Rice
So many things to do with rice. Thailand is the world's biggest exporter of rice so you can imagine they have plenty available at home.
If you want to order plain rice you can say 'kaow suay' or 'kaow bplao'. They basically mean the same thing. 'kaow suay' means beautiful rice with the implication that it will be light and fluffy. 'kaow bplao' is simple plain rice.
'kaow dtom' is rice soup while 'joke' is a thicker porridge where the rice has been broken down.
'kaow nee-ow' (sticky rice) is a strain of short-grained glutonose rice that is mostly grown in Laos and ee-sahn. When cooked it sticks together in a glutonous mass. It is a popular accompaniment of grilled chicken and som-tam. There are also sweet varieties eaten with fruit or coconut milk.
Noodles
Noodles are also one of the staples of Thai food. There are two types of noodle; those made of rice and those made of flour.
'sen mee', 'sen lek' & 'sen yai' are the three rice noodles most commonly eaten with Thai noodle soup (gu-ay tee-ow).
'ka-nom jeen' is often referred to as Thai spaghetti or Thai vermiccelli. These soft noodles are spaghetti-like but thinner, softer, and served in clingy piles. They are usually eaten with curry.
'ba-mee' is an egg noodle made from flour. This is the type of noodle most westerners will recognise from the Chinese dish chow mein.
'ma-ma' are dried noodles that come in packs that cost around 5 baht each or in pot noodles. You just boil them or soak them in boiling water. 'ma-ma' is actually the brand name of the most popular manufacturer who have such a dominant share of the market that their name is synomonous with the product.
Sauces
Sauces, dips and condiments are an important part of Thai cuisine. The word 'sauce' is widely understood and used in Thai. The Thai word is 'nam chim' which means 'tasting water'.
The three most popular sauces in Thai cooking are 'nam plah' (fish sauce), 'nam hoi nahng rom' (oyster sauce) and 'sauce tua leu-ang' (soy sauce).
'nam prik' is a popular chili sauce and can be made in many varieties. It is made from fish sauce, lemon juice, chilies and various other optional ingredients. It can be used as a dipping sauce or mixed into the rice.
