“Pad Cha Gai” (
ผัดฉ่าไก่) is a stir-fried dish with chicken and various vegetables. What makes it special is that it is based on a spicy
paste made from chillies, garlic and galangal. The dish is also seasoned with fingerroot, kaffir lime leaves, Thai basil and fresh green pepper, as well as fish
sauce, soy sauce and rice wine.
The name component “Cha” is an onomatopoeic description of the sound made when the ingredients are fried at high heat. The first part “Pad” means “to fry” and
the last part “Gai” stands for “chicken”. The whole thing can therefore be translated as “sizzling fried chicken”. The dish is also known by the reverse name
“Gai Pad Cha” (
ไก่ผัดฉ่า).
Name
Pad Cha Gai
Pad (ผัด)
stir-fry
Cha (ฉ่า)
sizzling
Gai (ไก่)
Chicken
Alternative names
Pad Cha Gai,
Pad Dja Gai,
Phat Cha Gai,
Gai Pad Cha
