Traveling is challenging under the best of circumstances. Planning takes time and the expenses pile up. But you don’t always have to get on a plane to take a vacation. March 30 is National Virtual Vacation Day, so why not celebrate with Thai food in Lexington, MA? You may not actually be able to travel to Thailand, but White Coconut Thai Restaurant can make you feel like you’re there without straying far from home. Here are some classic Thai dishes that you’ll find on the menu at White Coconut.
If you want to try a classic dish that will make you feel like you’re in Thailand, chicken or beef satay with peanut sauce is the way to start. A relatively simple marinade of curry paste, curry powder, coconut milk, salt, and sugar goes on the chicken (or beef), which is then put on a bamboo skewer and grilled. What really makes this dish stand out is the peanut sauce. There are some variations in peanut sauce recipes, but all feature peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and spices.
Called the world’s most popular salad, it’s hard to find a food more associated with Thai cuisine than som tum, green papaya salad. The name comes from the taste and how it’s made. “Som” is a northeastern Thai word meaning “sour taste,” and “tum” means pounding with a pestle to break or crush the ingredients. In Thailand, you can find som tum everywhere from street vendors to restaurants. The ingredients vary, but the green papaya remains the key ingredient. Whether it’s sliced or shredded, crisp green papaya gives som tum its distinctive texture.
Whether a curry is green or red depends on the chilies used to make it. Green curry has a more versatile flavor. It can be as hot as red curry, but the spice of green curry can be tempered by the other ingredients that give it its green color besides the chilies. Basil and other herbs are often added to the curry to achieve the desired hue. Served with any protein—chicken, pork, beef, tofu—or mixed vegetables, green curry is a staple of central Thai cuisine.
Even if you can’t take a trip to Thailand, you can experience the next best thing at White Coconut Thai Restaurant. If you’re searching for Thai food in Lexington, MA, your search is over! Come to White Coconut to take a virtual Thai vacation.