Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – Thai food is a very popular and distinctive style of cooking that is known for its bold flavors, complex spices and use of fresh ingredients. Herbs play a distinct and tasty role in this type of cuisine.
Herbs are used for culinary, medicinal or aromatic purposes. They are generally small, leafy plants that have a wide range of uses and benefits. Some common herbs in Thai cooking include cilantro, parsley, chives, dill and mint. Fresh Thai herbs are used in cooking to add flavor and enhance the nutritional value of dishes. Dried herbs are uncommon in Thai cuisine since the country has abundant fresh herbs.
Siam Cocina Thai in Puerto Vallarta serves up a wide variety of dishes featuring fresh herbs that give each time-tested recipe a distinct taste and flavor profile. Here are a few examples of the Thai herbs used, which will make navigating the menu a little less daunting.
Lemongrass, well-loved for its warm, zesty taste and aroma but also for its versatility in cooking applications, is a Southeast Asian herb used in various cuisines across the world, but notably in Thai and Vietnamese food. Unlike other herbs which tend to be small, delicate and leafy, lemongrass is a tall sturdy stalk with several layers. Usually, the outer layers of lemongrass are removed to leave the fresher, inner layers for use in food. They are also used to prepare herbal teas and other beverages.
Despite its name, lemongrass doesn’t simply taste like lemon. Its flavor has more depth and complexity. Lemongrass has been described as a combination of lemon and lime, layered with other notes of ginger, mint and florals. A key difference between lemongrass and other citrus flavored ingredients is the absence of bitterness. It’s a vibrant part of Massaman curry, yellow curry and tom yum soup.
The king or garnishes is Thai sweet basil, but it is so much more than a dark green, leafy accessory. It’s a wonderfully fragrant herb with an unctuous flavor. Thai basil or sweet basil is the most commonly used Thai herb in the United States. It has large, shiny leaves with sharp-looking edges and purple stems and is slightly tougher than regular basil. But the sturdy leaves retain their structure and flavor, even when cooked.
Thai basil has a sweet, peppery, slightly spicy taste with notes of anise/licorice and a hint of cinnamon and mint. The intensely aromatic leaves are used, usually by the handful, in stir fries curries, fried rice and added to lettuce wrappers for enclosing spring rolls. It’s a vibrant, irreplaceable addition in many recipes, providing the herbaceous and savory notes that round out a dish.
Another essential ingredient in most Thai dishes is Kaffir lime leaves. These originated from Southeast Asia and bring a delightful, aromatic, zesty and fresh flavor to dishes. Imagine the taste of regular limes but more pungent, earthier, sweeter, tangier and blended with the flavor of a very mild basil. This is a close description but still doesn’t quite describe the truly unique flavor of kaffir lime leaves. They are used to bring an acid balance to the fierce chili heat or other strong ingredients, which Thai food often contains.
The leaves are dark green and shiny, with a glossy texture. They are typically double-lobed, resembling an hourglass or the shape of two leaves fused together. This distinctive appearance makes them easily recognizable. The leaves can either be added whole, torn or crushed in the hand to release the oils contained within. It is not recommended to eat a whole leave, but the strips are perfectly edible.
The lime itself is about the same size as a regular lime. It’s easily identified by its knobby skin. The difference is that kaffir lime juice is not used in cooking because it definitely leans on the bitter side. And there isn’t a whole lot of juice to begin with, as in regular limes.
These are used in a wide variety of dishes including: Thai green and red curry, tom yum soup, and chu chee.
You can sample all these herbs in action at Siam Cocina Thai. It’s one of the most popular cuisines in the world and is loved for its unique blend of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors. The addition of fresh herbs takes it over-the-top.
There are two Siam Cocina Thai restaurants in Puerto Vallarta. One is located at 271 Francisco Madero in Colonia Emiliano Zapata, just north of Zona Romantica, and just south of the Rio Cuale. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 5:00-10:30 pm. The other location is at 317 De Los Tules in Jardines de Vallarta, three blocks east of Costco. The hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 2:00-10:00 pm. Both are closed on Mondays. Visa, MasterCard and Amex accepted. Pets or animals are not allowed inside the restaurants.
For more information, click HERE, visit SiamPV.com, or follow Siam PV Cocina Thai on Facebook.