Last Updated on March 14, 2024 by Sabrina Currie
Thai food is colorful and mouthwatering with loads of fresh herbs and spices and paired with seafood, it makes crave-worthy meals every time. I've gathered over 30 of the best Thai seafood recipes from curry to salad and so much more so you can make a tasty Thai seafood feast at home.
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Flavors of Thailand
Full of rich flavors, Thai recipes include ingredients like coconut cream, sweet basil, red chilis, chili sauce (nam prik pow), fish sauce (nam pla), and so much more. There is lots of spicy food, but by making it at home, you can adjust the spice level as you like.
There are many regional specialties as well. Northeast Thailand includes a lot of salads, lighter soups and fermented foods and tends to be spicier than the food in the south and less sweet. Being farther away from the ocean, there is more chicken, pork and beef in the dishes. (Love seafood dishes from around the world? Check out the best Greek seafood recipes here.)
Southern Thailand grows a lot of coconuts which equals more coconut milk, the use of coconut oil in cooking and shredded fresh coconut in recipes. Seafood dishes are very popular, as are pineapple and cashew nuts. The shrimp based dipping sauce nam phrik kapee is a common condiment in the south.
There are also unusual things to eat in Thailand. When we came across a cart of deep fried insects at a night market, we had to try them. Crunchy and salty. Probably won't eat them again though 😉
Spicy soup, Thai seafood soup (I enjoyed this everyday while on Koh Pha Ngan at Hut Sun, our sweet little home for 10 days), pad Thai noodles, fried whole fish, and juicy prawns in coconut milk curries are just some of the really delicious Thai seafood recipes. (You can read about my cooking class on Koh Phi Phi on my Thai oyster mushroom curry page.)
Below is a typical table of different types of fish and shellfish for sale at a market in Thailand. Look at those lobsters! And the mussels. I absolutely loved the food in Thailand and make it regularly at home now.
Appetizers + Snacks
A great way to start any meal, these little appetizers have big flavor. Hit up the seafood market and pick up different kinds of fish and shellfish and have fun with these recipes.
Soup
No Thai seafood feast would be complete without a steaming bowl of tom yum talay or tom yum goong, a spicy and sour soup brimming with mixed seafood or shrimp, rice noodles, and the aromatic aroma of galangal and lemongrass. Pair with a glass of chilled white wine or Thai beer to cool down your mouth.
Salad
These Thai salads are great for hot days and the delicious seafood makes these work as a meal on their own or with a side of sticky white rice.
For a surf and turf dinner, add in this Thai steak salad full of fresh mint, cilantro and basil.
Noodles + Rice
For a taste of traditional Thai fare, whip up a batch of Pad Thai, a classic stir-fry often featuring juicy shrimp, crisp bell peppers, and tender fish fillets, all tossed in a fragrant mixture of garlic cloves and green onions. Serve alongside fluffy jasmine rice or sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves for an authentic Thai experience. There are lots of versions (even within Thailand) so read through to pick your favorite.
Or go for fried rice with shrimp or crab meat. Like the salads, these can be one of many dinner recipes or they can be dinner on their own. (Got scallops? Try this scallop fried rice.)
Curry
With lots of flavors like lime, basil, cilantro, fresh and dried chilis, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and Thai chili paste, infused with the aromatic essence of coriander root and kaffir lime leaves, Thai curries are full of rich flavor. Simmer your favorite seafood in one of these flavorful sauces or marinate and grill curried seafood for a dish that's bursting with flavor. (For a veggie side curry, here's my favorite oyster mushroom Thai red curry.)
Pad Ped Talay is a name given to a mixed seafood curry. It features fresh seafood like fish fillets, mussels and succulent prawns, creamy coconut milk, and a fiery blend of green curry paste or Thai red curry paste. Garnish with fresh Thai basil and a squeeze of fresh lime juice for a flavor that will transport you straight to Thailand's southern regions.
Bowls + Tacos + More
Not so traditional, here are Thai inspired recipes for bowls, skewers and tacos. Thought they aren't authentic, they pack big delicious flavor that will have you making them again.
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