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What to Serve With Thai Food: 15 Best Side Dishes

Enhance your Thai meal with a variety of delightful side dishes. Start with Som Tum, a vibrant papaya salad rich in vitamins. Thai Spring Rolls add a delightful mix of textures and flavors. Sticky Rice is a staple that pairs well with curries and grilled meats. Thai Cucumber Salad offers a invigorating, tangy contrast, while Tom Yum Soup provides a spicy, aromatic kick. These side dishes not only complement the main courses but also add variety and excitement to your meal. Curious about more delicious options? You'll discover additional enticing side dishes just ahead.

Som Tum (Papaya Salad)

thai spicy papaya salad

Som Tum, or Papaya Salad, is a quintessential Thai side dish known for its vibrant flavors and invigorating taste. This dish features a unique flavor profile combining sweet, sour, salty, and spicy elements.

Besides its delightful taste, Som Tum offers numerous health benefits, being rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. It's an invigorating and nutritious addition to any Thai meal, perfectly complementing main dishes.

Thai Spring Rolls

delicious thai appetizer option

Another beloved Thai side dish that offers a delightful combination of flavors and textures is Thai Spring Rolls. These crispy rolls can include a variety of fillings, with vegetarian options being particularly popular.

They are typically served with flavorful dipping sauces, such as sweet chili or peanut sauce, which enhance the overall taste. Thai Spring Rolls are a crowd-pleaser, perfect for any Thai meal.

Sticky Rice

perfect for sushi rolls

Sticky rice, a staple in Thai cuisine, is known for its unique texture and subtle flavor that perfectly complements a variety of Thai dishes. Its sticky, chewy consistency is achieved through specific cooking techniques, making it an ideal base for rich curries or grilled meats.

The mild flavor profile of sticky rice allows the bold, aromatic spices of Thai dishes to truly shine.

Thai Cucumber Salad

delicious and refreshing salad

Complementing the hearty texture of sticky rice, Thai cucumber salad offers an invigorating and tangy contrast that enhances the overall dining experience.

This revitalizing dish combines the crispness of cucumbers with the zesty flavors of Thai pickles and cucumber kimchi.

The light and crunchy salad balances the rich and bold flavors of Thai cuisine, making it a delightful addition to any meal.

Tom Yum Soup

spicy thai shrimp soup

Tom Yum Soup is a quintessential component of Thai cuisine. It offers a vibrant medley of spicy, sour, and aromatic flavors. Known for its health benefits, this soup is rich in antioxidants and nutrients.

Spicy variations cater to different heat preferences, ensuring a satisfying experience for all. Its invigorating broth, combined with fresh herbs and seafood or chicken, makes it a perfect accompaniment to any Thai meal.

Mango Sticky Rice

sweet thai dessert favorite

Mango Sticky Rice is a beloved Thai dessert that harmoniously combines sweet, ripe mangoes with creamy coconut-infused sticky rice. The flavor profile is a delightful contrast between the rich, tropical fruit and the smooth, slightly salty rice.

Originating in Thailand, this dessert offers a perfect ending to any meal, showcasing the country's love for balancing flavors and textures in their cuisine.

Thai Fried Rice

flavorful thai fried rice

Thai Fried Rice is a staple in Thai cuisine. It is a versatile dish that combines fragrant jasmine rice with a medley of fresh vegetables, proteins, and aromatic seasonings. It often features seafood options like shrimp or crab, but delicious vegetarian variations are also popular, incorporating tofu or extra veggies.

This dish provides a flavorful complement to any Thai meal, ensuring a satisfying dining experience.

Chicken Satay

spicy skewered chicken dish

Chicken Satay is a popular Thai appetizer featuring marinated, skewered, and grilled chicken served with a flavorful peanut sauce.

These grilled skewers are both tender and rich in taste, making them an excellent choice to complement your Thai meal.

The accompanying peanut sauce adds a creamy and slightly sweet element, enhancing the overall dining experience with its unique flavor profile.

Pad See Ew

thai noodle stir fry dish

Following the flavorful allure of Chicken Satay, Pad See Ew offers a savory and comforting noodle dish characterized by its broad rice noodles stir-fried with Chinese broccoli, soy sauce, and a choice of protein.

For those seeking vegetarian options, tofu is a delightful substitute.

To enhance the experience, consider beverage pairings like Thai iced tea or a crisp white wine, balancing the dish's rich flavors.

Thai Basil Fried Rice

delicious thai basil dish

Often celebrated for its aromatic and spicy notes, Thai Basil Fried Rice is a vibrant dish that combines fragrant jasmine rice with fresh basil leaves, garlic, and chili for a satisfying culinary experience.

Ingredients variations include adding chicken, shrimp, or tofu, while cooking techniques focus on stir-frying over high heat to meld flavors beautifully.

This versatile dish pairs well with many Thai main courses.

Thai Peanut Salad

delicious and refreshing salad

A quintessential accompaniment in Thai cuisine, Thai Peanut Salad features a harmonious blend of fresh vegetables, herbs, and a rich peanut dressing.

This delightful salad offers a crunchy texture with ingredients like cabbage, carrots, and bell peppers.

The creamy peanut dressing ties everything together, providing a flavorful contrast that perfectly complements main Thai dishes, making it a well-loved addition to any meal.

Thai Coconut Soup

spicy tangy creamy broth

Thai Coconut Soup, frequently known as Tom Kha Gai, showcases a delicate balance of creamy coconut milk, tangy lime, and aromatic herbs that create a symphony of flavors.

This delightful soup offers various soup variations, including vegetarian options.

The comforting blend of ingredients makes it a perfect side dish that complements any Thai meal, adding depth and a soothing taste experience.

Green Papaya Salad

tangy thai culinary delight

Green Papaya Salad, known locally as Som Tum, is a vibrant and invigorating dish characterized by its crisp texture and tangy flavor profile.

This Thai favorite boasts regional variations, each adding unique twists. Some versions include a fermentation process, enhancing its complex taste.

It pairs wonderfully with many Thai dishes, offering a rejuvenating contrast to richer, spicier main courses.

Thai Eggplant Stir-Fry

delicious thai vegetable dish

Eggplant Stir-Fry is a delectable dish that marries the tender texture of eggplants with a savory blend of spices and aromatics.

This dish, rooted in authentic recipes, offers both rich flavors and nutritional benefits. The eggplants absorb the spices beautifully, creating a harmonious balance of taste and health.

It's a perfect side dish to complement your Thai meal, adding depth and variety.

Can the Same Side Dishes be Served with Both Thai Food and Potstickers?

When it comes to the best side dishes for potstickers, the same options can also complement Thai food. Cucumber salad, steamed vegetables, and jasmine rice are versatile choices that pair well with both cuisines. Their light and fresh flavors provide a perfect balance to the savory and rich taste of potstickers and Thai dishes.

Thai Fish Cakes

delicious thai street food

Bursting with flavors from fresh herbs and spices, fish cakes offer a delightful contrast of textures, making them a popular side dish in Thai cuisine.

These savory treats are often served with a tangy dipping sauce, which enhances their unique taste.

The combination makes for an irresistible pairing, providing both crunch and zest that perfectly complements the main Thai dishes.