Stir, Dip, Drizzle: Unlock New Flavours With the Right Thai Sauce Posted on 23 September 2025 0 Cooking for the family can become a bit of a challenge when it comes to finding inspiration for new dishes. Finding ways to keep it exciting and not repeat the same menu every week Cooking for the family can become a bit of a challenge when it comes to finding inspiration for new dishes. Finding ways to keep it exciting and not repeat the same menu every week is something that many families struggle with. But adding a few Thai ingredients to your cupboards can transform meal times. The type of sauce used can take a plain piece of chicken and transform it into a tasty and authentic Thai dish. Below we explore some ideas for cooking sauces and ingredients every home should invest in to help keep every mealtime exciting. Sriracha: Your Go-To Sauce for a Kick of Heat Sriracha is one of Thailand’s best-known exports, a tangy, spicy hot sauce made from red chillies, vinegar, garlic, and a hint of sweetness. A squirt of sriracha brings instant zing to stir-fries, noodle bowls, and even scrambled eggs. Its smooth texture and gentle sweetness make it a favourite at the table, drizzle over grilled chicken, mix into mayo for a punchy sandwich spread, or use as a dipping sauce for spring rolls and crispy snacks. Sriracha is ideal for adjusting spice levels to suit the whole family’s tastes, keeping meals lively but still balanced. Fish Sauce: Salt, Savour, and Umami Depth Fish sauce, also known as nam pla, is a vital component of all Thai cooking. Made from fermented fish and salt, it delivers savoury, umami-rich depth to nearly every dish, from aromatic soups to sizzling stir-fries and fragrant curries. The distinctive aroma can be off-putting at first, but it mellows out beautifully when cooked, leaving behind a complex, salty-savoury note. Try a splash in curry pastes, use it instead of salt in fried rice, or mix fish sauce with lime juice, garlic, and chopped chilli for the classic Thai dipping sauce nam jim that bursts with fresh flavour. Coconut Milk: Creamy and Subtly Sweet Base No Thai cooking cupboard is complete without coconut milk, a staple for curries and soups, beloved for its creaminess and mild sweetness. Use coconut milk as the main base for Thai green, red, or massaman curries. It blends perfectly with curry pastes, tender chicken, seafood, or tofu for a rich, dairy-free dish. It can also be stirred into soups, simmer prawns or mixed veg for a comforting supper, or even try it as a base for coconut rice. Satay Sauce: Nutty, Spicy, and Ideal for Grilling Satay sauce, often peanut-based with a hit of red curry paste, tamarind, sugar, and fish sauce, is the ultimate partner for grilled skewers. It’s thick, creamy, and packed with roasted peanut flavour, making it perfect for dipping chicken, tofu, or crunchy veg. Add satay sauce to rice bowls, use as a salad drizzle, or try it as a quick marinade for oven-baked meats and plant-based proteins. Its balanced blend of spice, sweetness, and savouriness is always a crowd-pleaser. Thai Curry Paste: Flavour Bombs in a Spoonful Thai chilli pastes deliver intense, smoky-spicy, and slightly sweet notes that can lift any meal. Mix chili pastes into rice, eggs, or simple broths for a deeper flavour profile. Meanwhile, curry pastes, red, green, yellow, or panang, are the shortcut to restaurant-style curries. Just fry a spoonful in oil, add coconut milk, your choice of protein and veg, and simmer. With so many curry paste varieties, anyone can choose a Thai curry that works for their preferences, from fiery and complex to mild and aromatic. Soy Sauce: Everyday Essential for Savoury Balance Soy sauce is a classic, offering rich savoury notes and a touch of colour to stir-fries and rice dishes. Thai cuisine uses both light soy sauce for seasoning and dipping and dark soy sauce for sweetness and colour. Use light soy sauce to season noodles or fried rice, splash on veggies, or add to dumpling dips. Dark soy sauce is brilliant for bringing shine and depth to braised dishes and meat marinades. Both types have a place in Thai cooking, making them versatile for all sorts of recipes. Looking for New Cooking Sauces to Spice up Meal Times? A handful of the right Thai sauces can make every meal enjoyable. Whether wanting to stir, dip, or drizzle, Thai Food Direct has you covered with an unrivalled choice of sriracha, fish sauce, coconut milk, satay sauce, chilli paste, curry paste, soy sauce, and other cooking sauces. Don’t hesitate to blend sauces or layer flavours for unique results. Add chilli paste to coconut milk for a spicier curry, toss sriracha into salad dressings, or brighten up fish sauce dips with extra herbs and citrus. Explore our range today, stock up on a few staples, and unlock endless possibilities, experiment, taste, and discover new family favourites.