Every year, beginning on April 13, Thailand celebrates its lively New Year festival called Songkran, marking the transition of the sun from Pisces to Aries according to the Buddhist calendar. This jubilant five-day event offers everyone a chance to get rid of the previous year's worries, symbolically washed away through exciting water fights on the streets, followed by a nourishing sharing of food with family.

Then follows the real treat for the senses: an array of delicious, hugely intense Thai cuisine fit for any celebration or for a special meal at home. It may be a mouthwatering Thai curry that you crave; or perhaps it's the spicy crunch of a fresh papaya salad; or the tropical duo of mango and coconut in sticky rice; all quintessential Thai dishes to savor.

Food expert Matt Taylor-Gross points out that the iconic flavor in a traditional Thai stir-fry, pad krapow, comes from holy basil, a vital ingredient not to be substituted if possible. However, if holy basil is not available, Italian basil offers a closer taste than Thai basil for this specific dish.

Victor Protasio, also a food stylist, comments on the magic of pounding shreds of green papaya in a mortar with a sweet, salty, sour spicy paste - a process that enables the salad to absorb these rich flavors and yet maintain its crisp crunch.

Food stylist Jennifer Causey discusses the unique flavor profile of Thai coconut milk curry, governed by a spicy and piquant chile paste made from red chile, lime, galangal, shallots, cumin, and kapi (shrimp paste). She also talks about the pungent white and brined green peppercorns that complement snapper fillets in a popular dish from Watcharapong Tanabat, a chef from Ging Grai in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Nonetheless, Thai cuisine is not all about curries or stir-fries. Victor Protasio also brings our attention to the crab fried rice, enriched with savory chunks of crabmeat and served with a prik nam pla, a famous Thai sauce that enhances the umami flavors of the dish. Or perhaps your palate would prefer khao mun gai - tender poached chicken served with ginger rice and an aromatic chicken broth - remarkably simple and comfortingly delicious.

If a meat-free option is preferred, food writer Lara Lee has crafted a pad Thai featuring oyster mushrooms, chewy noodles, crispy bean sprouts, and spicy long red chilies, all brought together by golden-fried tofu and crunchy peanuts.

Lastly, let's not miss the dessert! Indulge in Thailand's much-relished dessert - mango sticky rice. This is a straightforward recipe, but the secret lies in the ingredients. The rice must be labeled as "sweet rice" or "glutinous rice" to achieve the desired texture, paired with a good quality full-fat, unsweetened coconut milk and ripe, juicy mangoes.

Songkran, in its essence, is a festival of togetherness and renewal, perfectly reflected in the variety and vibrancy of Thai cuisine. Feel the spirit of this joyous festivity as you create and savor the fabulous dishes that make up the heart of Songkran.