Many times the ingredients called for in Thai recipes may not be available in your locality or the prices may be very high. Here are some possibilities that may be substituted for Thai ingredients, but remember, to make it authentic, there is no real substitution for Thai ingredients if you want that REAL taste.. (Some items courtesy of Moi’s Kitchen)
| shallots | red or spanish onions |
| bamboo shoots | in fried dishes you may use asparagus |
| Thai chilis: prik ki nu | Mexican chilis: habanero |
| Thai chilis: prik chi fa | Mexican chilis: jalapena |
| coconut milk | whole [cows] milk |
| fermented fish | anchovy paste |
| fermented pork | Spam, marinaded in lime juice |
| lime juice | lemon juice |
| limes | lemons |
| gord gourd leaves (bai dumleung) | watercress |
| phak kana (Thai kale) | broccoli |
| makheau phuang (Thai pea eggplants) | garden peas |
| green mangoes | sour green cooking apples |
| palm sugar | light brown sugar |
| shrimp paste | anchovy paste |
| swamp cabbage | cabbage (blanch if required ‘raw’ |
| Thai basil | a mixture of Italian basil and mint |
| tamarind juice | 5 parts tomato catsup to 1 part vinegar |
| mooli (white radish) | turnip |
| Kaffir lime | lime zest |
