Thai peppers, also known as bird's eye chilies, are a key ingredient in many Southeast Asian dishes. These small yet powerful peppers add significant heat and flavor to curries, soups, and stir-fries. I will share different types of Thai chilies and practical tips on how to use them in your cooking.
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🥜 In a Nutshell
- Learn about the vibrant, spicy Thai peppers and their essential role in Southeast Asian cuisine.
- Discover the variety, including Bird's Eye Chili, Prik Chi Fah, and Prik Yuak, each with unique flavors and heat levels.
- Get practical tips on incorporating these chilies into sauces, stir-fries, curry pastes, chili oil, and salads to add a burst of flavor to your dishes!
🌶️ What Are Thai Peppers?
Thai peppers, also known as bird's eye chilies, are small yet potent chili peppers that come in vibrant red or green. Native to Thailand, these fiery peppers are a cornerstone in many Southeast Asian cuisines.
These peppers are often used in popular dishes like Thai curry and spicy salads. If you’ve ever eaten Pad Krapow, the spicy heat likely came from Thai peppers. They score high on the Scoville scale, measuring between 50,000 to 100,000 units, making them significantly hotter than jalapeños.
Their intense heat and distinctive flavor make them indispensable in Thai food. Fresh Thai peppers add a sharp, fiery burst to salads and stir-fries, dried peppers lend a smoky depth to broths and soups, and ground powder infuses curries with a consistent heat. For instance, in Thai green curry, these hot peppers balance the creamy coconut milk, while in Pad Kee Mao, they add a powerful kick to the savory sauce.
If you’re looking to substitute Thai peppers, consider using serrano peppers or cayenne powder, though these alternatives may not have the same intensity or flavor profile. Always start with a smaller amount and adjust according to your taste.
🔥 Types Of Thai Chili Peppers
While many think there's just one kind of Thai chili, there are actually a whopping 79 different kinds grown globally, each with its own special flavor and use in recipes.
- Bird's Eye Chili (Prik Kee Noo): This small, slender Thai pepper can be found in green, orange, or red shades. It's visually striking and known for its intense spiciness, with a Scoville rating of 50,000 to 100,000 units. It is also known as Thai hot pepper!
- Chiles pointing to the sky (Prik Chi Fah): This chili, also native to Thailand, stands out with its upward-pointing growth and bright red color. It's less spicy than some others, with a heat level ranging from 5,000 to 30,000 Scoville units.
- Banana Peppers (Prik Yuak): The Prik Yuak is also called the banana pepper since this chili looks like a banana. This green chili maintains its light shade and doesn't darken or shift as it matures. It's popular for its mild spiciness and natural sweetness, making it a top pick for those who like mild food. You will often find them as pickles in sandwiches and salads.
In addition to these, Thai cuisine features many other chilies like Prik Jinda, Prik Ban Chang, Prik Kaleang, Prik Mun, and Prik Leung. Each offers its own distinct taste, level of spiciness, and culinary use, highlighting the incredible versatility and variety of Thai chilies in various dishes.
🍲 How To Use
Chef Andy Ricker emphasizes the importance of Thai peppers in traditional dishes. In his book Pok Pok, he illustrates how these chilies balance spice and flavor. For instance, his naam jim kai (sweet chile dipping sauce) shows how a few Thai peppers can elevate a dish.
Here are practical tips for incorporating Thai chilies into your next recipe:
- Sauces and Condiments: Hot sauces are a great way to introduce Thai chilies into your meals. Try my sambal oelek or sweet chili sauce for dipping spring rolls or drizzling over fried rice. Prik nam pla (fish sauce with chilies) is perfect for soups and stir-fries, adding a spicy umami punch.
- Spicy Stir-Fries: Thai chilies shine in stir-fries. Pad Kra Pao, for example, uses minced chicken, basil, and plenty of chilies for a flavorful and spicy meal. Another favorite is Pad Kee Mao, also known as drunken noodles, which combines broad rice noodles with meat, vegetables, and a generous amount of fresh chilies.
- Curry Paste: Thai red or green curry paste often includes Thai chilies. You can either make it from scratch or buy it ready-made, and most of the time you just need to stir a spoonful into coconut milk for a quick and flavorful curry base. It's perfect for whipping up a comforting bowl of chicken or tofu curry on a busy weeknight.
- Chili Oil: Make your own chili oil by heating vegetable oil and adding crushed Thai chilies. Let it infuse on very low heat, then strain out the solids. Use this spicy oil to drizzle over noodles, soups, or even pizza for an extra kick.
- Chili Flakes: Dried Thai chilies can be crushed into flakes and used to sprinkle over dishes, adding a burst of heat and flavor.
- Salads: Thai chilies are essential in salads like Som Tum (green papaya salad). This dish blends shredded green papaya, tomatoes, green beans, peanuts, and chilies with a tangy lime dressing. The result is a refreshing yet spicy salad that tantalizes your taste buds!
🙋 People Also Ask [FAQs]
Is it safe to eat raw Thai peppers?
Thai peppers can be consumed raw, but they are exceptionally spicy due to high capsaicin levels. It's advisable to eat them in small quantities to prevent discomfort, and incorporating cooling foods like yogurt or cucumber slices can help alleviate the heat effects.
What is the best way to store Thai peppers to keep them fresh?
To keep fresh Thai peppers at their best, store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator's vegetable drawer; this method can maintain freshness for up to a week. For longer storage durations, freezing them in an airtight container is ideal, as they can remain fresh for several months this way.
Can I substitute Thai peppers with another type of chili if they are not available?
Yes, serrano or cayenne peppers serve as suitable substitutes for Thai peppers. It's recommended to adjust the quantity based on the heat levels of the substitute peppers. While the flavor might vary slightly, they will still provide the desired spicy element to your dish!
Can I grow Thai peppers at home? If so, what conditions do they need?
Indeed, you can cultivate these peppers at home. These peppers thrive in warm environments, requiring a minimum of six hours of sunlight daily, well-draining soil, and regular watering. To ensure optimal growth, avoid overwatering to prevent root rot and protect the plants from common pests such as aphids.
Can Thai peppers be used in non-Asian cuisines?
Absolutely, these peppers can enhance the spiciness of various cuisines beyond Asian dishes, including Mexican, Italian, and American recipes. For instance, incorporate them into salsas, pasta sauces, or spicy marinades for grilled meats to add a fiery kick to your favorite non-Asian dishes.
Emilee says
How should this be stored?
Elle says
Hi Emilee, To store Thai chili peppers, simply place them in a perforated plastic bag or wrap them in a paper towel, and then store them in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator. For more details, check out the "Tips and Tricks" section of the blog. If you have more questions, feel free to ask!
Yoram says
5 min is too much time and the pepers will be burnt. Also one location you write one cup of olive oil, another place few table spoons, not sure what it should be
Elle says
Hi Yoram,
Thank you for spotting that - yes, the correct amount is the one in the ingredients in the recipe card, and have fixed it.
I have added a few notes to make the recipe clear; the hob used should be the smallest on your stove and on the lowest heat setting; this will allow the peppers and garlic to infuse the oil while cooking extremely slow. The oil will lightly sizzle as the water from the veggies is eliminated, but these will slowly turn golden brown as they are cooked.
If you look at the image in the recipe card, you can notice how the color of the oil changed too - this happens because the whole dressing was cooked very slow, and my chopped garlic is golden-brown. I hope this helps!