If you’re planning an event or gathering, and you’re just stumped on what to serve your guests for the appetizers, we’ve got plenty of options to choose from, and Thai appetizers are just what you need!

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Food at parties and events can have a tendency to be on the heavy side, many hosts want to impress their guests and while this is fantastic, we thought you may need some appetizers that are on the lighter side to please your guests.

Thai food is famous for putting emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components.

14 Thai Appetizers That Are Easy To Make

Many Thai dishes have a spicy edge to them which really separates them as signature dishes at events and gatherings, you’ll know when you’re enjoying a well-put-together Thai dish based on the level of spice you pick up on, and how well you can handle it!

Thai cooking is all about juggling different elements of ingredients to create a harmonious dish, there’s actually a lot more thought that goes into each dish to make it so special.

So, when you’re making these appetizers for yourself, really pay attention to the methods involved and exactly what spices and foods have been utilized in each dish. You may be surprised.

There are exactly four categories that Thai food falls under, tom (boiled dishes), yam (spicy salads, gaeng (curries), and tam (pounded foods).

Most dishes are said to have been derived from Chinese cooking, and each dish has a lot of history to prove it. Many countries tend to borrow and be influenced by another, especially around the same areas, for example, India, and Cambodia.

It’s been predicted that Thai people originally learned how to use spices in their dishes and food from observing Indians, and they’re especially influenced by Indian cuisine.

Chicken Satay with Peanut Dipping Sauce

I think we all know that as human beings, we enjoy anything that has been fried, barbecued, smoked, and grilled to the point of being charred, and put onto a stick for convenience.

This dish is a play on grilled chicken, with a delicious peanut dipping sauce that was most likely only sent from the gods above because of how great it is!

Also, as promised, this appetizer is so easy to make. It’s the type of appetizer you find yourself making on repeat for not only convenience but enjoyment.

The peanut sauce can be easily adapted to your preferences, too, and we recommend a few fresh herbs like basil or parsley to top the skewers when they’re smothered in your new delicious peanut sauce. Garnish with fresh lime and you’re done!

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Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

This recipe resembles as much as a fresh chicken salad, with the twist of the lettuce being used for wraps!

Breaded wraps can also be a substitute if you’d prefer something more filling, however for an appetizer, this is exactly what your dinner party needs! It’s light and delicious, and that’s the aim here.

Like many Thai dishes, this appetizer is designed to be refreshing, fresh lemon juice makes a great garnish to sizzle that chicken, and the lettuce is the crunchiest you can get. So, follow this recipe to achieve the same results at your next gathering or get-together.

This dish is bursting with bold flavors and is full of fresh vegetables, protein, and a wonderful Thai sweet chili sauce that will have everyone coming back for seconds.

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Peanut Dipping Sauce

We couldn’t tell you all about peanut dipping sauce in these recipes without including a recipe for that delightful dipping sauce itself!

It’s so creamy, savory, and is just spicy enough to tickle the taste buds! And, as we promised, it’s so easy to make, so there’s no reason not to try it out at your next dinner party.

It also makes for a fabulous vegetable dip as well as for chicken and other meats, we love a sauce that is diverse. Drizzle it over spring rolls, pour it over your noodles, we don’t care as long as you enjoy it, that’s the main takeaway here.

For a more traditional peanut sauce, try substituting coconut milk for water to mellow the flavors, and if you want an extra burst of flavor, try adding a squeeze of lime juice and chopped cilantro to taste.

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Fresh Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce

Now, these aren’t the standard spring rolls that you find at your local store, these spring rolls have been made with the freshest ingredients and the wraps themselves have a secret like no other to be refreshing and light, whilst enhancing the flavors inside.

This recipe uses red cabbage, chopped carrots, spring onions, lettuce, cilantro, mint, rice noodles, butter cabbage, cucumber, and jalapeño’s to create a flavorsome appetizer that no one will be able to resist.

There’s just something about that combination of vegetables and rice noodles that is so satisfying on the tongue and leaves us coming back for more.

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Thai Corn Fritters

This is actually an ideal appetizer for summer evenings and events, it remains refreshing whilst inviting your taste buds for a good time, and that’s exactly the pairing we’re aiming for with Thai food!

It used fresh corn, coconut milk, cilantro, and green onions to make small fritters that are perfect to snack on and grab on the go.

Try topping yours with fresh sour cream to add a pop of bold flavors to this exciting dish, and garnish with cilantro at the very end!

During those hot summer months, there’s nothing better than fresh corn, it’s up there with watermelon, and strawberries with how delightful it is.

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Supreme Thai Ribs

There’s nothing better than the visual of Thai ribs in a sticky and delicious sauce, you smell them before you taste them and, you can imagine the taste of the sweet sauce they’re smothered in immediately.

They only take 8 minutes to prepare and 2 hours to cook, so while you wait for them, why not try out another appetizer recipe to fill in that extra time you have in the kitchen. This recipe serves roughly 2 to 3 people, so if you have more guests in mind, simply double or triple it!

Now, that sauce is going to be a game-changer in your life, it’s sweet, sour, and spicy in the perfect way and the balance will knock you out of this world.

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Baked Thai Coconut Shrimp with Lemongrass Guacamole

The great thing about Thai food is how they balance out the flavors within the dishes, these recipes originate from countries that love to experiment, and they know exactly what food combinations can complement each other in unorthodox ways!

Shrimp, coconut, and lemongrass guacamole are some of these combinations, and you just won’t understand how delicious it truly is without trying it for yourself.

We love the addition of fresh strawberries to this appetizer to sweeten the load, it’s not an ingredient you would initially think to put into the salad underneath the shrimp, but it works, and that’s all that matters.

The sweetness most likely brings out those coconut flavors in the shrimp.

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Thai Peanut Salad Wonton Cups

This recipe is the perfect appetizer for a light lunch or dinner, and the peanut dressing over the shredded vegetables? Just divine! It’s also topped with crushed peanuts, all in a crispy wonton shell for your convenience.

They’re also easy to throw together, which is always a plus when hosting a dinner party or making lunches for the kids! The great thing about Thai appetizers like this is that they have a balance of sweet and savory flavors, to keep them refreshing but delicious at the same time.

And they tend to be on the healthier side of cooking recipes because of all the vegetables incorporated into dishes.

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Thai Fried Bananas

This one just sounds spectacular, doesn’t it? The visuals I’m getting for fried bananas with delicious dips are out of this world, and it’s a struggle to not go make this recipe right this very second!

These almost look exactly like one of the previous fried recipes we talked about, they’re smothered in toasted sesame seeds before frying which gives them an extra crunch, and you can make whatever dipping sauces you want to accompany them.

We recommend trying a chocolate sauce out for a first try and serving this recipe to your guests as a light appetizer. You’ll need two sweet plantains or 6 namwa bananas.

You’ll also need shredded coconut, rice flour, granulated sugar, salt, baking powder, white sesame seeds, water, and oil for frying!

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Thai Pinwheels with Peanut Sauce

These are very similar to spring rolls, however, they are in a different package! The rolls themselves are served in pinwheel shapes which is so fun to arrange and the peanut sauce, need we say anymore?

It’s delicious with every Thai recipe, and this recipe is so easy to put together in no time. If you love red peppers, carrots, and avocado, you’ll be overjoyed with these rolls!

The peanut sauce has been made slightly thicker than the usual counterpart, to make it more spreadable on the rolls. So, just keep that in mind when making yours. And the tortillas are a mix of spinach, amaranth, and mesquite flour, making them completely vegan!

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Thai Cucumber Salad with Peanuts

There’s a lot of stigma behind salads being this boring meal that you just cannot enjoy no matter what you do, but that’s just because you’re looking at the wrong recipes!

They’re easy to make and easy to fill with flavorsome vegetables instead of the bland stereotypes we all know of! This salad is smothered in delicious garnishes as well as packed full of fresh cucumber, onions, and peanuts to change up the textures in the appetizer.

We promised you exciting flavors in your Thai appetizers, and that is what you will get. There are no excuses for them being boring when you follow a recipe like this.

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Thai Style Popcorn

We just couldn’t do a list like this without offering you the chance to try an exciting and playful Thai appetizer! Popcorn can be so fun to make and if you can get inspired by a Thai recipe for popcorn, then why not serve it to your guests as the appetizer before a movie or dinner party?

It’s crispy, crunchy, and has just the right amount of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors to tickle all of your guest’s taste buds. It’s also vegan and gluten-free, so what’s not to love about this recipe?

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Dragon Fruit Cocktail with Vodka

Cocktails are a fantastic way to enjoy an appetizer without the need to create a whole dish of its own, if you can drink the appetizer, why not? This recipe entails using a unique fruit to excite the evening and is so easy to make with vodka!

The flavors just work with vodka so well and to finish off the recipe, cut a fresh slice of dragon fruit and garnish the side of the glass to make it exciting!

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Thai Fruit Skewers with Coconut and Lime

Our last recipe for you today is a classic Thai recipe, and you’ll love it all the more once you try it yourself! If your guests are not lovers of meat or are vegetarians and vegans, this recipe is perfect!

Top the fruit off with cilantro and other herbs to add a kick to this appetizer and enjoy! You’ll need a plethora of fruits to make this recipe, and we recommend using kiwi, melons, pineapple, and mangos to experiment with flavorsome fruits.

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Final Thoughts

Thai food is incredibly rewarding for all the work that has gone into the dishes and appetizers, most party guests will enjoy something on this list, and we hope you can as well!

Don’t be afraid to try out different combinations as well to see what works for your party, as they’re all easy recipes to follow along with. If you have the time, make several for your next event!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Kind Of Appetizers Do They Serve In Thailand?

One of the most popular dishes in Thailand is spring rolls. There are simply infinite ways to make spring rolls if you have the imagination to do so!

They are often wrapped around sautéed vegetables and deep-fried for a crunchy bite, however, there are other ways to make them healthier and lighter.

How Many Authentic Thai Appetizers Are There?

If you’re a fan of spicy and sweet cuisine, there are countless Thai appetizers out there to try, you just have to find them!

Our list of 14 Thai appetizers that are easy to make, does all the work for you. All you have to do is choose the recipe that suits you best and excites your taste buds!

What Are Thai Snacks And Starters?

Typically, Thai snacks are starters are made to be visually attractive and beautiful! They originate from other countries surrounding Thailand, like India and Cambodia, where recipes have been made to look as amazing as they taste.

It’s all about color and taste! Thai chefs also produce a number of great dipping sauces for appetizers, which add complicated flavors to already incredible dishes.

14 Thai Appetizers That Are Easy To Make

Thai recipes are perfect for parties and social gatherings, so we’ve got 14 of the best Thai appetizers that are so easy to make, to make your life easier!

Ingredients

Directions

Pick a recipe from the list above
Click the recipe name and visit the website
Collect the ingredients and cook the food
Enjoy – don’t forget to leave a review

Recipe Video

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Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!