Thai Vegan Choices from Homecook to Gourmet. What Should You Try?

V eganism and plant-based eating has seen a steady rise globally in recent years. With increased awareness of the health and environmental benefits of reducing meat consumption, more people are seeking out vegan options wherever they may be. Thailand, while not traditionally a heavily vegan cuisine, has seen this trend reflected in growing vegan choices available, from the household kitchen to street stalls to high-end restaurants.

Whether you're a visitor or resident, herbivore or omnivore, the diversity of Thai vegan food makes it an exciting cuisine to explore.

At Home

For home cooks, it's easier than ever to prepare Thai vegetarian and vegan dishes with ingredients available locally and online. Mixed vegetable rice porridge is a household staple that can be prepped ahead for easy reheating.

Simply cook jasmine rice in vegetable stock until soft, then mix in chopped carrots, cabbage, morning glory greens, and other vegetables on hand. Garnish with crispy fried shallots, soy sauce, white pepper and lime wedges for a comforting any-time meal.

Green curry is another Thai favorite that can easily be made vegan. Brands like Nittaya Thai Curry, Namjai and Maesri offer vegan green curry pastes made from herbs, chilies and spices without shrimp paste or fish sauce.

Sauté the curry paste with coconut milk, vegetables like eggplant, bamboo shoots and sweet basil, and tofu for a protein punch. Serve over jasmine rice for a flavorful vegan meal the whole family can enjoy.

On the Street

Some of the most classic Thai street food has traditionally relied heavily on fish sauce, oyster sauce and egg, making it difficult for vegans to partake. But Thailand has seen more plant-based adaptation of popular street eats in recent years due to tourist demand.

Som tam, the iconic spicy green papaya salad generally contains fish sauce and dried shrimp. But it can be easily prepared by substituting soy sauce or salt instead. Spicy and sour pad thai with pan-fried tofu is also becoming a more common sight among street carts in areas with vegan traffic. Vendors may even have a separate vegan fryer oil to cook up vegetable pad thai.

In Restaurants

Thai restaurants around the world now often highlight vegetarian/vegan options on their menus. But in Thailand itself, specialized vegetarian restaurants have been around for generations, as many Buddhists observe a plant-based diet on certain days of the lunar calendar.

In big cities like Bangkok, there are fully vegan Thai restaurants catering to both international and domestic patrons.

Popular dishes to find in such restaurants include fresh vegan Thai spring rolls, wrapped in rice paper rather than egg roll wrappers common outside of Thailand. Fillings center around vegetables like cabbage, carrot and mint rather than the traditional pork and shrimp. Spicy tom yum soup is normally made with fish sauce, but vegan versions rely on mushrooms for savory umami flavor along with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal and chilies in a vegetable broth.

Going Gourmet

In Thailand and abroad, some high-end Thai restaurants are reinventing traditional dishes with a modern, plant-based twist. Artfully plated panang and massaman curries, typically made with meat, now feature center-stage seared tofu and vegetables.

The rich, nutty sauces also gain more complexity from aromatic Thai herbs and spices when not competing with lamb, beef or chicken.

Seasonal vegetables from local markets may even make an appearance like green jackfruit. Meals are rounded out with fragrant jasmine rice and house-made dipping sauces. With skilled chefs now taking Thai cuisine in an elevated vegan direction, herbivores can rejoice in these gourmet offerings.