Isan Recipes: authenticity, flavours and traditions from Northeast Thailand
- InFusion
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
A culinary journey through Northeast Thailand
Isan, the vast northeastern region of Thailand, is a land of contrasts. Rural and deeply attached to its traditions, it has preserved a simple, honest and distinctive cuisine. Sticky rice reigns supreme here, accompanying salads, grilled meats and spicy dips. Influenced by neighbouring Laos and Cambodia, Isan cuisine stands out for its bold flavours, often salty, sour and fiery.
Our book Isan Recipes brings together fifty emblematic dishes of this vibrant gastronomy, collected directly from families and local markets. It celebrates the earthy balance and the freshness that define everyday cooking in the Northeast.
Emblematic dishes of Isan cuisine
The famous green papaya salad (somtam) perfectly captures the spirit of Isan with its freshness, crunch and spicy punch. Equally iconic, larb, a warm minced meat salad with herbs and roasted rice powder, reflects the rustic refinement of this regional cuisine. Lovers of grilled dishes will appreciate the herb-marinated beef and the famous weeping tiger, slightly smoky and aromatic, as well as the khao ji, small grilled sticky rice cakes often served with dips and nam prik. On the markets of the Northeast, the scent of fermented sausages (sai krok isan) mingles with that of grilled marinated chicken, always served with the classic nam chim cheo sauce made from tamarind and toasted rice.
These dishes capture the essence of Isan cuisine: a straightforward, balanced cooking style where every ingredient has its place and contributes to the harmony of salt, acidity and heat.
Isan Recipes, part of the regional collection
This book is part of a series devoted to Thailand’s regional cuisines:
Recipes from Isan
Recipes from Central Thailand
Together, these books offer a complete exploration of the country’s culinary heritage, from the coastal South to the rural Northeast.
Discover Isan recipes on our blog
Find several of these recipes on our website:
And of course, the essential toasted sticky rice that accompanies many of these dishes
Go further: Thai cuisine and cooking classes
Do you love Thai cuisine? Come and learn how to prepare these typical dishes from Isan during our private cooking classes in Koh Samui. Discover all our options on the page Thai Cooking Classes on Koh Samui.
Learn more about Isan cuisine
To better understand the history and influences of this region, read our article Isan cuisine: History, flavours and the dishes that tell the story of North-East Thailand
Find these recipes in our book
These dishes are featured in our book Isan Recipes, which brings together fifty typical recipes from the Northeast, from pounded salads to aromatic grilled meats. Available in our InFusion Cooking Classes Koh Samui collection.
A taste of authenticity
A tribute to the simplicity and depth of flavours of Northeast Thailand, for a true culinary journey to the heart of Isan.
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