Thai Food

[jkmunchkin]

This may be a really dumb question, but is all Thai food typically spicy? And if not what dishes are typically not spicy?

I never really had the desire to try Thai food before being diagnosed with celiac, but I know they do a lot of stuff with rice papers and rice noodles (ofcourse I know to question all the sauces), so I figured maybe I would give it a try this week. Thing is, (and this is why i never tried Thai food before), I hate spicy. I'm a total spice weenie. The slightest bit of spicyness and I'm dying.

Any recommendations or guidance?

[pinkpei77]

go for the red curry! or massaman curry! they are def gluten-free!

and dont have alot if spice at all.

they have coconut milk base so it keeps it "cool" in your mouth!

hope you enjoy it!

im having thai tomarrow!

[jmengert]

I'm a spice wimp, but I love Thai food. Before diagnosis, I used to eat Pad Thai all the time. It's not spicy at all. However, some of the milder curries that people have recommended to me over the years have me with tears running down my face--my body just doesn't like spices! (Drunken noodles is one dish that had me doing this--I would stay away from this one!) But, Pad Thai is a good place to start--tame, yet very yummy!

[penguin]

Anything with peanut sauce is generally not spicy either. Also, every thai place I've been to has had a star or pepper rating from 1 to 5 for spiciness. I usually ordered a two pepper (mildly spicy) while DH would order 0 peppers (before we moved to Texas and he discovered a liking for spicy food, since even "mild" salsa here leaves your tongue charred )

[jkmunchkin]

Thanks guys!!!

I'm a spice wimp, but I love Thai food. Before diagnosis, I used to eat Pad Thai all the time. It's not spicy at all. However, some of the milder curries that people have recommended to me over the years have me with tears running down my face--my body just doesn't like spices! (Drunken noodles is one dish that had me doing this--I would stay away from this one!) But, Pad Thai is a good place to start--tame, yet very yummy!

Awesome!! I was thinking I wanted to try Pad Thai.

Anything with peanut sauce is generally not spicy either. Also, every thai place I've been to has had a star or pepper rating from 1 to 5 for spiciness. I usually ordered a two pepper (mildly spicy) while DH would order 0 peppers (before we moved to Texas and he discovered a liking for spicy food, since even "mild" salsa here leaves your tongue charred )

And I always thought peanut sauce sounded yummy!!

Perfect; I'm gonna get Pad Thai with peanut sauce

[Nancym]

Chicken yellow curry is very mild. Panang curry, my favorite has a slight kick to it. Be sure to ask about wheat though, they might use soy sauce, just depends on the place. Also I love Tom Ka Kai, it is a soup made with coconut milk.

[Corkdarrr]

I'm a HUGE Thai food fan. I always used to stick to pad thai because I'm also a big weenie when it comes to spices. But my newest favorite is peanut curry. I always get it at one star (out of five) and like to call it peanut butter curry. YUM.

enjoy!

(mussaman curry is also quite tasty)

[jkmunchkin]

Hmmmmmmm.... some of those sound really good too!!!

I'm gonna be sure to take my Triumph Dining cards with me.

[tarnalberry]

While I get my red curry nice and spicy, you certainly don't have to. As mentioned, thai food does not in any way have to be spicy, and all the restaurants I've seen have a scale for all of their dishes and you can order them non-spicy.

[NJKen]

Be sure to ask about wheat though, they might use soy sauce, just depends on the place.

Oyster sauce is used in some Thai dishes, and nearly always has wheat in it. I once went to a Thai restaurant and was told that they didn't use much soy sauce, but used oyster sauce in everything but the peanut sauce dishes. That narrowed my choices down to exactly 2 menu items.

The good news for the person who originated this line of discussion is that peanut sauce is definitely not spicy.

Ken

[Lauren M]

Thanks guys!!!

Awesome!! I was thinking I wanted to try Pad Thai.

And I always thought peanut sauce sounded yummy!!

Perfect; I'm gonna get Pad Thai with peanut sauce

Hmmm, at my favorite Thai place, I've tried a peanut dish that was DEFINITELY spicy! At this particular place, all the dishes are made to order - mild, medium, hot, or thai hot (outrageously hot). I love spicy stuff, so I order it thai hot, but I think they can make any dish to your particular taste. I would just recommend stressing that you do NOT want a spicy dish.

The yummiest thing that I order is the Pineapple Fried Rice w/veggies and tofu (can order with meat). It sounds odd, but it has warm pineapple, raisins, cashews and it's just a GREAT combination!

The server who always waits on me at my favorite Thai restaurant makes me laugh. She's from Thailand, and says that I'm the only American who can take my food "Thai hot" I take it as a compliment

- Lauren

[LindsayM]

Oyster sauce is used in some Thai dishes, and nearly always has wheat in it. I once went to a Thai restaurant and was told that they didn't use much soy sauce, but used oyster sauce in everything but the peanut sauce dishes. That narrowed my choices down to exactly 2 menu items.

The good news for the person who originated this line of discussion is that peanut sauce is definitely not spicy.

Ken

Hi there..regarding the comment about oyster sauce.. so do you find asking if sauces or dishes have "wheat" in them suffices when at restaurants? im never 100% confidant since i always read that "wheat free" doesnt necessarily mean "gluten free".. any thoughts?

[gfp]

Hmmm, at my favorite Thai place, I've tried a peanut dish that was DEFINITELY spicy! At this particular place, all the dishes are made to order - mild, medium, hot, or thai hot (outrageously hot). I love spicy stuff, so I order it thai hot, but I think they can make any dish to your particular taste. I would just recommend stressing that you do NOT want a spicy dish.

The yummiest thing that I order is the Pineapple Fried Rice w/veggies and tofu (can order with meat). It sounds odd, but it has warm pineapple, raisins, cashews and it's just a GREAT combination!

The server who always waits on me at my favorite Thai restaurant makes me laugh. She's from Thailand, and says that I'm the only American who can take my food "Thai hot" I take it as a compliment

- Lauren

Authentic thai food is almost all hot.

If you ever travel to Thailand then true Thai food is very hot.

I had an Arabic friend who came to a Thai resto with me which cooks authentic Thai dishes and he ordered one of the "hot dishes" ... since he figured he's Arabic, he can eat hot food.... anyway we ended up switching plates because he couldn't eat it...

I like hot food .... but I have walked out of some resto's in Thailand just because walking in through the door burns your eyes. Ive literally walking in and thought hmm.. better find another resto ...

[Dianne Lam]

"wheat free" doesnt necessarily mean "gluten free".. any thoughts?

Absolutely right.. and many kind friends have bought wheat free cake for me , and I feel awful refusing to eat it ..

[bklynceliac]

are there specific ingredients that you all ask about when going to Thai places that are traditional to the cuisine that you tell them to avoid? Other than soy sauce of course. I miss real Thai (and chinese) so much, and the Thai Kitchen stuff can only go so far.

[jkmunchkin]

I never got to go last week for Thai food.

I took off from work part of last week and figured I would go try it for lunch but the place I want to try is only open for dinner.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions. I'll let you know how I do once I go there.