Thai Herbs - Kraprao, Lemon, Lemon Grass, Pepper, Pumpkin and Shallots in Thai Food

Krapao

Kra prao or sacred basil is used in Kaeng Pha, Kaeng Kae and some spicy fried meat dishes to reduce the smell of the fish meat. Fresh leaves are sprinkled on food before removing from heat.

Benefits:

- Reduce sugar in blood

- Release tension

- Stomachic

Kra Prao Use in Thai Food:

- Khao Phad Kra Prao

Lemon

Lemon juice is used to make a sour taste in Tom Yam, Som Tum, Phla, spicy salads and many chili pastes and also lemon juice for drinks.

Benefits:

- Expectorant

- Carminative

- Antiscorbutic

Lemon Use in Thai Food:

- Tom Yum Kung

- Tom Kha Kai

- Som Tum

Lemon Grass

Lemon grass is spicy and bitter and used for seasoning the Thai food and as the main ingredient in every recipe of Kaeng Phed, spicy salads and Tom Yam.

Benefits:

- Antibacterial, Fungal, Yeast

- Diuretic

Lemon grass Use in Thai Food:

- Tom Yum Kung

- Tom Kha Kai

- Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai

- Beef Masaman

- Kai Phad Phed

- Phanaeng Kai

- Nam Ya Pla

Pepper

Pepper is popularly found in every kind of chili paste, in soup together with coriander root and garlic and as well sprinkle in for a good smell. It is normally used in cooking of Kaeng Phed, Kaeng Pa and Phad Phed.

Benefits:

- Expectorant

- Diuretic

- Stomachic /colic

- Digestive

Pepper Use in Thai Food:

- Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai

- Beef Masaman

- Kaeng Liang

- Kai Phad Phed

- Phanaeng Kai

- Khao Phad Kra Prao

Pumpkin

Fresh leaves and young flowers are blanched or boiled to supplement with the chilli paste. Its flowers are used as ingredients in Kaeng Lieng and Kaeng Som. Besides, the ripe pumpkins are used in many dishes both soups and fried dishes. It is also good to make many recipes of desserts; pumpkin boiled in syrup and pumpkin in coconut syrup.

Benefit:

- beta carotene

Pumpkin Use in Thai Food:

- Kaeng Liang

Shallot

Shallots are used to reduce meat savory and as seasoning and also the main ingredient in chili paste for Kaeng Phed, Tom Kloong, Kaeng Lieng, Tom Yam, Lhun, Yam, Larb and Nam Prik and as well in some desserts.

Benefits:

- Stomachic

- Catarrh relief

Shallot use in Thai Food:

- Tom Yum Kung

- Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai

- Beef Masaman

- Kaeng Liang

- Kai Phad Phed

- Phanaeng Kai

- Phad Thai

- Khao Phad Kra Prao

- Nam Ya Pla