Question 1

Are these the exact recipes I will learn during the cooking class?

Accepted Answer

Yes - these are the very dishes you cook hands-on in class, from hand-pounded curry pastes to Pad Thai and Mango Sticky Rice. Reserve your spot to cook them with us on our booking page.

Question 2

Can I cook these traditional dishes if I am vegan or vegetarian?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Every recipe is cooked your way for vegan and vegetarian diets - Northern Thai soy sauce for fish sauce, mushroom stock for chicken, fresh tofu for meat. See how in our dietary guide.

Question 3

How can I learn the proper techniques, like using a traditional stone mortar?

Accepted Answer

The best way is hands-on. In class you learn to pound pastes in a traditional stone mortar, balance flavors, and control wok heat - guided step by step by Chef Niti. Join a cooking class to master them.

Question 4

How many recipes will I cook in a single class?

Accepted Answer

In a single class you cook a full menu of 10 dishes and the curry paste - appetizers, curries, stir-fries, an Akha soup, and dessert - eating each as you go. See the full experience in our class guide.

Question 5

Are these recipes very spicy, and can I adjust the heat?

Accepted Answer

As much or as little as you like. Each recipe scales across five heat levels, from mild and herb-forward to the fiery Akha Warrior, set dish by dish. Find your level in our spice levels guide.

Question 6

Can I really cook authentic Thai food at home from these recipes?

Accepted Answer

Yes - that is why we send every guest home with a 40-page CookBook and an ingredient gift set. With the techniques you learn here, these recipes travel anywhere, and many cook them within days of returning. Learn live in a cooking class.

Question 7

What makes the 'Signature Akha Dishes' so special?

Accepted Answer

Our Signature Akha Dishes - like Sapi Thong, Akha Salad, and Akha Soup - come straight from the highland forest tradition, built on foraged herbs and hand-pounded pastes. Explore their roots in our featured recipes. Explore Northern Thai cuisine.

Question 8

What is Sapi Thong, the signature Akha paste?

Accepted Answer

Sapi Thong is the soul of the Akha table - a hand-pounded chili-and-herb paste, smoky and complex, that anchors many highland dishes. Made fresh in a stone mortar from foraged aromatics, it carries generations of mountain flavor in a single spoonful, and it is one of the first things you will master with us. Discover its philosophy in our Sapi Thong guide. Learn about the Akha people.

Authentic Thai Akha Recipes - Chiang Mai | Thai Akha Kitchen