Thai by the Sea 🍤
Thais make the best seafood IMO
Sawaddee ka 🙏🏼
Thailand produces some of the very best seafood in the world. So it really shouldn’t be surprising that Thai cuisine is loaded with fish and seafood dishes. In fact, I believe that Thai people do seafood better than anyone else 😉.
We take it so seriously that seafood restaurants make up a huge proportion of restaurants in Thailand, especially in coastal cities, of which there are many.
So, today I wanted to send you 5 Thai recipes from the sea. Some of these easily land in my top 5 seafood dishes of all time (like the Steamed Fish with Lime) and others are so easy and delicious that they end up on my table regularly.
But first, if you haven’t heard…
The official HTK apron has arrived!
In collaboration with a local Canadian Vancouver apron company, Search & Rescue Denim, I’ve designed 2 premium HTK aprons which are now available for purchase! Check them out here, and use the code HOTTHAIKITCHEN15 for 15% off! (They ship worldwide). Thank you in advance for your support of Hot Thai Kitchen! 🙏🏼
On to the recipes…
Grandma’s Garlic Shrimp
With “grandma” in the recipe title, you know this is going to be a taste of simple Thai home cooking! Grandma’s Garlic Shrimp is one of my grandma’s simplest recipes and I was on a mission to document it because… well grandmas make the best stuff and they never have a written down recipe!! I think I captured its salty-sweet-umami trifecta well, if I do say so myself!
Dry Tom Yum Seafood
Dry Tom Yum Seafood is a simple but luxurious dish. It’s been around for a long time but became well known when Thai street food vendor Jay Fai, who makes the dish, earned a Michelin star and was featured on Netflix. You’re probably very familiar with Tom Yum Soup. “Dry” Tom Yum is like a stir fry version with all the flavor of the soup but none of the broth!
Easy Curry Crab
Thai Crab Curry is one of my all-time favourites but it’s not a dish you see often outside of Thailand and I’m not really sure why. What I am sure of is how incredibly luxurious and quick and easy this is to make. It’s totally weeknight appropriate! If crab is not available, substitute shrimp and it’s just as delicious!
Steamed Fish with Ginger Soy Sauce
I like this Steamed Fish with Ginger Soy Sauce because it’s light and healthy but, you can also make it with any white, mild-flavoured fish. I usually use black cod (sablefish) but traditionally it would usually be made with barramundi. The zesty ginger with the fish and chewy mushrooms is sublime!
Steamed Fish with Lime & Garlic Sauce
Steamed Fish with Lime & Garlic Sauce is another one of my all-time favorite dishes, and just like Curry Crab, it’s super easy and very quick to make at home. Traditionally, you would make the recipe with a whole fish but you can swap out filets or steaks or even sub the fish for shrimp (there’s a recipe with shrimp in my latest cookbook, Sabai!).
Good morning!
I love your website and your recipes—they’re fantastic!
As a cook who has lived in Thailand for nearly two years and enjoys preparing a variety of cuisines, I have to respectfully disagree with your statement that “Thais make the best seafood.” From my experience dining at several Thai restaurants, I’ve consistently found seafood to be severely overcooked. Because of this, we rarely order seafood and instead opt for pork or chicken, which Thai restaurants typically prepare very well.
We also tend to avoid beef unless it’s imported, as quality local beef has historically been scarce in Thailand, making it a less prominent part of the traditional diet.
Thank you for your recipes!!
I wish to know more about your latest recipe book. I'm in Malaysia. How do i get a copy? My email cairel1020@gmail.com
Hope to hear from you soon Khun Pailin