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Food in Cambodia
Cambodian food should not be overshadowed by its neighbours Thailand and Vietnam; it is equally as delicious and fresh! Khmer food is simple, traditional and satisfying, making use of local produce and typically tossing together a mixture of contrasting flavours. Much like the rest of Asia, rice is a staple and part of most meals. It is eaten in many forms throughout the day such as rice cakes, rice noodle soup, rice porridge or sweet rice for desserts. Street food is popular among tourists visiting Cambodia and it is a great way to sample lots of delicious dishes!
Vegetarian and Vegan in Cambodia
While it’s best to stay clear of the grilled spiders, Cambodia is a great destination for vegetarians and vegans. The larger cities, such as Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have vegetarian only restaurants which always have vegan options too. In other areas, you may be limited to rice dishes, fried vegetables, noodles and vegetable coconut curries. Just always make sure to ask for no fish sauce to be added. For vegetarians, a popular dish is fried vegetables and noodles with a fried egg on top. Cambodia offers various fresh fruit which is perfect to pick up as a snack too!
Food Culture in Cambodia
Like most other countries in Southeast Asia, food culture in Cambodia is important and a time where family and friends come together to enjoy a meal. Chopsticks are normally used to eat most meals, even soups, and anything liquid is then “slurped”! Don’t worry about getting messy or eating with your hands, eating in Cambodia is very much a relaxed affair with the focus being on bringing people together.
Typical Cambodian Dishes
Fish Amok
The signature dish of Cambodia, this creamy curry can be found on menus throughout the country. Freshwater fish are soaked in coconut milk, eggs, fish sauce and palm sugar, and mixed with a spiced paste, turmeric and lemongrass. Traditionally the dish is served in a banana leaf bowl along with some rice.
Chicken and banana flower salad
Chicken and banana flower salad may seem a little odd, but this simple salad is popular on a hot day in Cambodia. Banana blossom flower are tossed with chicken pieces and fried with garlic, chilli and lemongrass. Trust us, you’ll want to try it!
Crab
Crab is popular along the coast of Cambodia, especially in Kampot and Kep. Crabs are caught fresh daily and served in a variety of ways. In Kep one of the most popular ways to eat it is just with a little local pepper!
Lap Khmer
Lap Khmer takes thin slices of beef and marinade it in a variety of flavours such as lime, garlic, shallots, fish sauce and herbs. Topped with lots of chillies, the dish is up there on the spice level but popular all over the country!
Khmer Curry
A simple dish that is found throughout is Khmer Curry, with the dish varying slightly between regions. It can be made with either fish, chicken or beef and includes potatoes, coconut milk and lemongrass as the key ingredients.
Skewers
Travelling Cambodia, you will see a lot of foods presented on skewers, and squid is no different! Found a lot along the coast, it is coated in herbs or spices. It is also popular to find beef and pork skewers being sold at food markets!
Green mango salad
Green mango salad is another brilliantly refreshing dish perfect for a hot day. It’s crunchy and light, consisting of sliced green mango sprinkled with tomato, shallots, chilli, fish sauce, cucumber, onion and herbs. Phew! It can be made vegan if you ask them not to add any fish sauce!
Balut
Now onto a delicacy not for the faint of hearted, Balut. Simply, it is the fertilised embryo of a duck and eaten whole, believed by the locals to be very rich in protein! Let’s just say this is an acquired taste…
Steamed pork bun
Steamed pork bun can be picked up in many street food markets and consist of freshly steamed buns stuffed with pork. Simple and delicious!
Tarantula
We cannot talk about Cambodian food without mentioning the tarantula, which has become the face of “unusual street food in Asia”! Grilled tarantula can be found in food markets all over the country and even in restaurants, where they might even showcase the live spiders beforehand. It is said that tarantulas became a staple in the diet during the Khmer rouge, where people caught and ate anything they could to survive. It just so happened tarantulas existed in abundance. While it can be a complete tourist rouse, locals do in fact eat them regularly as well as other insects such as grasshoppers and scorpions.
Drinks in Cambodia
Iced Coffee
Iced coffee is one of the most common drinks in Cambodia, mixed with condensed milk to provide a sweet and tasty drink. It can be found in cafes all over the country and also at local markets where it is likely to be cheaper. If you are not after a caffeine fix, tropical fruit juice is also widely available!
Beer
Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in Cambodia, with each region serving different local brews. Prices vary from under a dollar to a few dollars depending on where you are and an evening drinking with new found friends is a popular activity amongst backpackers. Angkor Beer, named after the iconic temples is the most consumed beer in the country. Other beers include the Angkor Extra Stout, ABC Extra Stout, Black Panther and Cambodia Lager.
Fresh Coconut Juice
Fresh coconut juice is a popular and refreshing drink, especially on a hot and humid day!
Rice Wine
Another popular drink consumed in Cambodia is rice wine. Fermented and distilled from rice, it packs a punch with an alcohol content of 18 to 25%. Production is usually done in households, farmers who cultivate rice will likely also be making rice wine on the side. Fermented rice residues are then fed to the village pigs so nothing goes to waste!
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