Thai food is one of the world's most exciting cuisines, a work of art that pleases the most discerning taste buds. Although influenced by neighboring countries, such as India and China, and later by Portuguese, Dutch, French and japanese cooking through contact with visiting traders, Thai food has continued to evolve and gain worldwide popularity, without losing its own distinct identity.

The success of Thai cuisine lies in a blend of four basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty and spicy. These flavors are achieved by combining indigenous herbs, spices and produce: coconut milk, lemongrass, tamarind, ginger, galangal, garlic, coriander leaf (cilantro), basil, palm sugar, turmeric, cumin, shallots and spring onions. Chili, a late-comer to Thai cooking, arrived with Portuguese traders in the early 16th century and creates the spiciness that has since become a central player in Thai cuisine. Fish sauce (nam pla) and shrimp paste (kapee), which are used in nearly every recipe in Thai cooking, round out the many flavors.

The masterful blending of these four flavors is what makes Thai dishes so unique. Getting the right balance is the secret to good Thai cooking. The characteristic flavors of Thai food come as much from the methods of cooking as from the ingredients used, and the actual quantities of strong seasonings, especially fish sauce and chili, may be varied to suit your tastes.

A fair amount of preparation like cutting, mincing and grinding is required to make most Thai dishes. Vegetables and meats are cut into small pieces before being stir-fried, allowing faster cooking while retaining their crispness and fresh flavors. Smaller pieces help the coating of spices, herbs and condiments for a tastier bite. Thai cuisine is, nevertheless, not complicated to wok once the ingredients are prepared and one can be sure that the result will make the extra time worthwhile.

So experiment and have fun. The recipes in this book are mainly homestyle and require no special skill. This book promises to be your handy guide to the world of Thai cuisine.