Online Siamese Culinary Masterclasses for Professional Chefs and Thai food enthusiasts

In my masterclasses, for the first time in the English language, I reveal the culinary secrets hidden in old and hard-to-find Siamese cookbooks and recipes dating from the late 19th century to modern days.

Get unlimited access to Thaifoodmaster’s constantly growing library of prime professional masterclasses, articles, recipes and videos on Siamese culinary topics, available nowhere else in English.

Online membership:
Masterclasses, Articles, Recipes, Daily Heritage Translations.
Professional Guides: Siamese Chili Relishes (น้ำพริก และ เครื่องจิ้ม), Thai Curries (แกงไทย), Thai Salads (เรื่องยำๆ) and The art of Siamese old-school menu design (สํารับอาหารไทย).

In-person workshops:
Chiang Mai, 2026. Limited spaces.

Masterclasses

Practical and kitchen-tested recipes with a mix of theory, history, psychology, and Siamese culture tidbits.

Aromatic Primer for Thai Cuisine - Part 1

Curry Paste Permeability

Minced-Bird Style Curries - A Peek Into Traditional Ingredients and Cooking Methods (แกงสับนก; Gaaeng Sap Nohk)

Reflections on the Lifecycle of Heat: Mastering Vibrancy and Maturity in Green Curry (แกงเขียวหวาน)

Patterns – Decoding the Complexity of Siamese Curry Paste: A Multidimensional Exploration

Aromatic Alchemy - The Art and Science of Pounded Curry Pastes

The Story of Gaaeng Buaan (แกงบวน) – The Oldest Siamese Dish?

The Secret Healing Powers of Siamese Curries – A Closer Look at Gaaeng Yaa (แกงยา)

The Art of Siamese Duck Curries - Theory and Practice (แกงเป็ด - ศิลปะ ทฤษฎี และ การปฏิบัติ)

Articles and Recipes

Potato Rice Soup (ข้าวต้มันฝรั่ง; khaao dtohm man farang)

Potato Khao dtohm Rice Soup, featuring a clear seafood broth with pork meatballs, served with crispy fried potatoes on the side. From Gingganok's 'Delicious Side Dishes,' 1935.

Naam Yaa Jeen - Fermented Rice Noodles with Chinese Sauce by HRH Prince Krom Luang Pitak Montri (น้ำยาจีน อย่างกรมหลวงพิทักษมนตรี)

Among the various curries that can be poured over khanom jeen fermented rice noodles, this broth, known as Chinese-style “naam yaa,” is unique in that it is a water-based curry that does not have chilies. As such, rather than the typical reddish-rust color of most coconut-based naam ya dishes from the Central Plains of the Kingdom, the sauce glows with a soft, light ivory hue, beautifully reflecting the dish’s natural sweet-savoriness, which is derived from slow-braising three proteins – chicken, pork and shrimp – along with a curry paste galvanized by smoke-dried fish and aromatic roots like galangal, fingerroot and sand ginger. The naam ya broth is served over a bed of fermented rice noodles and garnished with toppings such as delicate pulled chicken breast threads, golden-crispy fried shallots and garlic, and vivid green fresh coriander leaves and spring onion. All these elements add a visual grace and a hint of freshness to the robust broth – the signature dish of Prince Krom Luang Pitak Montri (กรมหลวงพิทักษ์มนตรี).

ขมิ้นขาว

White turmeric is the underground stem (rhizome) of the tropical plant Curcuma zedoaria in the ginger family. About 80 species of Curcuma have been identified, including the better-known culinary member of the family, the turmeric, with its deep yellow pigment. Quite rare in the west, white turmeric is used in Thai, Indonesian and Indian cuisines. It possess quite a long list of herbal remedies; maybe because its high levels of antioxidants.

Kaffir lime chili relish and vegetables blanched in pork lard (น้ำพริกมะกรูดกับผักตีน้ำมัน ; naam phrik magruut gap phak dtee naam man)

งบปลาช่อน

I love this straightforward grilled Thai fish curry in banana leaves because it packs a punch with its aromatic curry mixture that embrace the white and tender fish meat with great flavors. It is a great addition for any Thai meal and very easy to prepare.

Snakehead fish, traditionally caught from irrigation ditches or flooded rice fields, benefits from the aromatic curry paste because it helps to eliminate unpleasant odors which wild caught fishes might acquire from their muddy habitat. Nowadays though, it is commercially farmed and one can safely cook it in various ways with no risk of those undesirable odors.

Chuu Chee Curry with Climbing Perch (แกงฉู่ฉี่ปลาหมอ; gaaeng chuu chee bplaa maaw)

Chuu chee curry with climbing perch — pan-fried fish in split coconut cream based chuu chee curry with kaffir lime leaves and coriander leaves. From Jeeb Bunnag's 1933 cookbook.

Heritage: Issue 8, Wednesday, March 4, 2026

This week's folios: - แกงเผ็ด คาวีสวรรค์ — Celestial Beef Curry (กิ่งกนก กาญจนาภา, 1935) - แกงลูกชิ้นกุ้ง — Shrimp Ball Clear Soup (Jeeb Bunnag, 1933) - เครื่องในไก่กรอบ — Side-Dish: Crispy Chicken Offal (Jeeb Bunnag , 1933) - ผัดเปรี้ยวหวานนางกุ้ง — Sweet and Sour Stir-Fried Giant Female Freshwater Prawn (Jeeb Bunnag, 1933) - ยำ โกไลพิเศษ — Yam "Goliath Special" (Gingganok Gaanjanaaphaa, 1935) - ยำ ไวโอเล็ต — "Violet" Yam Salad with Cucumber, Pork and Dried Shrimp (Gingganok Gaanjanaaphaa, 1935) - เยื่อเคยทรงเครื่อง — Side dish: Dressed Fermented Shrimp Paste (Jeeb Bunnag, 1933)

Vietnamese-Style Rice Noodles (ขนมจีนญวน; khanohm jeen yuaan)

Vietnamese-Style Fermented Rice Noodles (ขนมจีนญวน; khanohm jeen yuaan)

Vietnamese-Style Rice Noodles features fermented rice noodles layered with fresh shrimp, pork, and herbs, dressed with a tangy sauce. From Jeeb Bunnak's 1945 cookbook.

Islamic Khanom Bueang (ขนมเบื้องอิสลาม; khanom bueang itlaam)

Khanom bueang itlaam, a Thai-Muslim ghee-fried parcel of laminated wheat dough filled with turmeric-spiced chicken, potato, and onion. Jeeb Bunnag, 1945.

Stir-Fried Salted Beef with Coconut Milk (ผัดเนื้อกะทิ; phat neuua ga thi)

Stir-Fried Salted Beef with Coconut Cream (ผัดเนื้อกะทิ; phat neuua ga thi)

Phat neuua ga thi, grilled sun-dried salted beef shredded and wok-tossed in thick coconut cream with shallots. Jeeb Bunnag, 1933.

Three Companions Fish Salad (พล่าปลาสามเกลอ; phlaa bplaa saam gluuhr)

Phlaa bplaa saam gluuhr: three grilled fish — smoke-dried, dried, and snakeskin gourami — with a tableside herb dressing. Jeeb Bunnag, 1933.

Heritage: Issue 4, Friday, February 6, 2026

This week's folios: - ข้าวเหนียวนึ่งหน้าเนื้อ — Steamed Gelatinous Rice with Beef Topping (Jeeb Bunnak, 1945) - แกงพวงพยอม — Shorea Flower Curry (Maawm Ying Soopha, 1949) - ลูกรอกไส้ไก่ — Egg Sausage in Chicken Intestine (Jeeb Bunnag, 1933) - ยำผิวส้มจีน — Mandarine Orange Peel Salad (Maawm Ying Soophaa, 1949) - แกงจืดฟักเขียวตุ๋น — Steamed Stuffed Winter Melon Clear Soup with Crab, Pork and Egg Sausage (Jeeb Bunnag, 1933) - ยำขนุนอ่อน — Young Jackfruit Salad (Maawm Ying Soophaa, 1949) - แกงเป็ดสวรรค์ — Heavenly Duck Curry (Maawm Ying Soophaa, 1949)

Dressed Shrimp and Salt-Pressed Jellyfish (ยำกุ้งแท่; yam goong thaae)

Yam goong thaae, a royal Thai salad featuring shrimp and salt-cured jellyfish with multiple textures and proteins. From Maawm Ying Soophaa's 1949 manuscript.

เปราะหอม

Sand Ginger (Kaempferia galanga), commonly known as kencur, aromatic ginger, cutcherry or resurrection lily, is known in Thai as praw haawm (เปราะหอม) or waan haawm (ว่านหอม) Sand ginger has a peppery camphory taste. It is one of four plants known as galangal, and is differentiated from the others by the absence of stem and dark brown rounded rhizomes, while the other varieties all have stems and pale rose-brown rhizomes. It is belongs to the ginger family and can be found primarily in open areas in southern China, Taiwan, Cambodia and India, but is also widely cultivated throughout Southeast Asia.

Heritage 16: Issue Thursday, April 30, 2026

This week's folios: - แกงข้าวตัง — Khaao Dtang Rice Crust Soup (Jeeb Bunnag, 1933) - แกงส้มกุ้งกับผักดอง — Sour Curry with Prawns and Pickled Vegetables (Jeeb Bunnag, 1933) - แกงต้มกุ้งปรุงสด — Shrimp Tom Bproong Soht Curry Soup (Jeeb Bunnag, 1933) - พล่าปลาสามเกลอ — Three Companions Fish Salad (Jeeb Bunnag, 1933) - ขนมเบื้องญวนใหม่ — New-Style Vietnamese Crispy Khanom Beuuang Crepes (Jeeb Bunnag, 1933) - ทอดมันปูเผือก — Taro and Crab Fritters (Jeeb Bunnag, 1933) - อินทผาลัมน้ำกะทิ — Date Palm in Coconut Milk (Jeeb Bunnag, 1933)

Siamese Culinary Legends of the Rattanakosin period

Siamese cuisine is the accumulated wisdom of cooks at every level of the society – from housewives cooking at home and caring for their families, to cooks in the temple, to the culinary masters who created elaborate dishes behind the palace walls.

In this series of short articles highlighting their lives and work, we salute and pay homage to the most prominent individuals who influenced and shaped the Siamese culinary arts bpaa ga sin (ปากะศิลป์) of the Rattanakosin Era.

These background descriptions will put into perspective the dishes we present and cook here on Thaifoodmaster and will also help you to cook Thai dishes that taste like they have a solid bond to the culture, the land and its people.

The Spice Vault

Here you will find recipes for popular spice mixes that you can make yourself! Homemade spice blends not only taste better and cost less, but you’ll also be able to create unique spice blends based on your personal preferences. As a bonus, you’ll use spices with no preservatives or artificial colors!

For example, members can explore recipes for Chinese five-spice mix, masalas for khao soi and hang lay curries, homemade Thai curry powder, and a variety of the spice blends used in Northern and Muslim Thai cuisines.

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Practical and kitchen-tested recipes with a mix of theory, history, psychology, and Siamese culture tidbits.

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