If you’ve spent any time in Thailand, it is a given that you will have sampled the local cuisine. If not you’re missing out some incredible tastes and flavours.
But one thing you might have noticed, and it’s something that causes confusion, is that all Thai foods are served with a side order of sliced cucumber. No matter where you buy food from, it can be a street vendor, a take away meal, a sit-down restaurant or even a swanky sky-bar. One thing remains the same, whichever dish you order form the local menu. Sliced cucumber on the side are a guarentee.
So let’s take a look at why Thai food is served with cucumber.
Fresh vegetables are an integral part of Thai cuisine and Thai cooking and cucumber is grown locally in Thailand, making it one of the cheapest vegetables to buy.
Although most people don’t don’t eat the cucumber that is served on the side, so why do cooks still insist on including it.
It is out of habit, Thailand is world-famous for their food, and it’s no secret that Thai people like their food hot and spicy. The level of spice in Thai food is what makes the cuisine so delicious and flavoursome. So after eating a Thai meal, the cucumber is eaten to cool off your taste buds and settle the burning sensation.
But when it comes to foreigners in Thailand.The locals have special adapted recipes. They know that westerners can’t stomach Thai food well, and you’ll be cooked the ‘children’s’ version of the dish, without any spice.
Which renders the cucumbers useless, if there is no spice in your meal to begin with then you want have any benefits from eating the cucumbers.
So there we have it, hopefully, your curiosity has been settled and you now know why Thai food is served with sliced cucumbers on the side. But to sum it up, it’s because Thai Food is hot (usually), and cucumbers are cool and cheap. They make for a perfect combination.
