Thai food
Spices + Herbs
Spices and various
plants used in Thai cooking are herbs, which have
medicinal properties that can heal illness. The benefits of herbs used in Thai food may not
always be obviously known, so the following are examples of herbs used in Thai cooking:
1. Finger
Root [kra-chai] : The fresh plump
roots have strong aroma and are juicy. Peel away the thin brown skin and wash
thoroughly to reduce their strong flavour before cooking. The benefit of Finger
Root is to dispel gas and can help with digestion and colic. Rhizome also
contains many vitamins such as vitamin A, B12 and calcium
2. Dried
Chilies [prik-haeng] : Both spur and
hot chilies are used. Dried hot chilies are normally roasted and ground, and
used as the seasoning. While dried spur chilies are used mostly in curry paste.
The benefit of chilies is to boost the appetite, and the spur chili also acts
as a tonic for the system. It dispels gas, phlegm, urine and can also be used
to treat indigestion.
3. Onions [hom-yai] : Good quality onions are heavy with dry and
smooth skin. Keep them in a ventilated arear in a basket for longer use. Do
not refrigerate.
4. Galangal [khaa] : A member of the ginger family, it has pungency and
tang, quite unlike that of the common ginger. Buy only young galangal with
plump roots and pinkish white skin. The benefit of galangal is to dispel
intestinal gas and ease dysentery. Besides relieving the distensions of the
abdomen, galangal also helps dispel phlegm.
5. Shallots [hom-daeng] : The ezesty small red onion. The ones with
glossy purplish red skin give strong smell, while those with yellowish orange
skin are sweeter in taste. The benefit of shallot is to dispel gas, helps ease
urinary passing, regulates menstrual cycles and is an effective treatment for
the common cold.
6. Lemongrass [ta-krai] : Pick the ones with plump base and light purple
in color. Peel away the outer bulb until the pinker insides appears. The
benefit of lemongrass is to help in digestion and the functioning of urinary
passing. It induces sweat and cures discharges and vomiting. In addition to
lowering blood pressure and dispelling gas, it is also used to treat fever,
stomach pain, as well as gallstones and other disease of the urinary tract.
