แกงจืด

Explanation

แกงจืด is a common Thai home-style soup with a mild, non-spicy broth. Typical ingredients include ground pork, meatballs, tofu, Chinese cabbage, glass noodles, and seaweed. The word combines แกง, a broad term for dishes with broth or sauce, and จืด, meaning “mild” or “bland.” In this established dish name, จืด does not normally criticize the food; it distinguishes the soup from strongly seasoned or chili-based dishes. The main ingredient is often added after the name, as in แกงจืดเต้าหู้, “clear soup with tofu.”

Usage

It is commonly used when discussing home cooking or ordering at casual restaurants. The soup may accompany spicy dishes and is often described as suitable for children, people recovering from illness, or anyone who prefers non-spicy food.

Caution

Although แกง can refer to curry in some dish names, แกงจืด is not a mild curry. It is a broth-based soup. Also, “clear soup” describes the general style; the broth does not have to be perfectly transparent.

1 mild Thai clear soup synonyms

• ต้มจืด

  ต้มจืด refers to the same general kind of mild, non-spicy soup and is commonly used almost interchangeably with แกงจืด. The preferred term often depends on the dish name or the speaker.