Amok
Often eaten: Lunch or dinner
Known for: Central Cambodia
Everyday meal
Photo: Oliver Spalt (CC BY 2.0)
5 dishes to discover
Food of Cambodia
Cambodia, a country in Southeast Asia, is known for its delicious food that's full of unique flavors. Many of the dishes are made with rice, fish, and fresh vegetables. Cambodian meals are filled with spices like lemongrass and ginger, making them tasty and aromatic. Let's dive into the world of Cambodian cuisine!
Featured Dishes
Meal Culture
In Cambodia, meals are a special time for family and community. Sitting together, everyone shares food from the same dishes, which is a way to show love and friendship. Food is often full of fresh flavors from herbs and spices like lemongrass and ginger. Rice is nearly always on the table.
Eating Etiquette
In Cambodia, it's considered polite to try a little bit of every dish on the table. When eating, you usually use a spoon in your right hand and a fork in your left. It's also polite to finish all the food on your plate.
When People Eat It
Bai Sach Chrouk
Often eaten: Usually eaten as an early breakfast, often from market stalls or street vendors
Known for: Nationwide
Everyday meal
Nom Banh Chok
Often eaten: Most often eaten for breakfast, especially as a fresh noodle dish in the morning
Known for: Nationwide
Everyday meal
Lok Lak
Often eaten: Lunch or dinner
Known for: Nationwide
Everyday meal
Chaa Kdam
Often eaten: Often served for lunch or dinner, especially in coastal seafood meals
Known for: Coastal areas
Everyday meal
Make It Yourself
๐ฉโ๐ณ Cook together! Always ask a grown-up to help with hot or sharp steps.
Amokแขแถแแแปแ
Makes 4 servingsIngredients
- 1 lb (450 g)White fish fillets, cubed
- 1 can (14 oz / 400 ml)Coconut milk
- 2 tbspRed curry paste
- 1 eggEgg
- 1 tbspFish sauce
- 2 leavesKaffir lime leaves, sliced
How to Make It
- 1Stir the curry paste into half of the coconut milk until smooth.
- 2Whisk in the egg, fish sauce, and lime leaves to make a creamy sauce.
- 3Gently fold the fish cubes into the sauce.
- 4Spoon the mixture into small heatproof bowls or banana-leaf cups.
- 5Ask a grown-up to steam them for about 20 minutes, until set and fluffy.
- 6Top with the rest of the coconut milk and serve with rice.
Bai Sach Chroukแแถแ แแแแแผแแขแถแแ
Makes 4 servingsIngredients
- 3/4 lb (340 g)Thin pork slices
- 1/2 cup (120 ml)Coconut milk
- 3 clovesGarlic, chopped
- 2 tbspSoy sauce
- 1 tbspSugar
- to serveCooked rice
How to Make It
- 1Stir the coconut milk, garlic, soy sauce, and sugar together to make a marinade.
- 2Add the pork slices and let them soak for 30 minutes.
- 3Ask a grown-up to grill or pan-cook the pork until browned and a little caramelized.
- 4Scoop warm rice into bowls.
- 5Lay the grilled pork on top.
- 6Serve with sliced cucumber โ a beloved Cambodian breakfast.
Nom Banh Chokแแผแแแแแ แปแ
Makes 4 servingsIngredients
- 1/2 lb (225 g)Rice noodles
- 1 can (14 oz / 400 ml)Coconut milk
- 1 cup (150 g)Cooked fish, flaked
- 1 tbspLemongrass paste
- 1 tspTurmeric
- 1 cupCucumber and bean sprouts
How to Make It
- 1Cook the rice noodles as the package says, then rinse and drain.
- 2Ask a grown-up to simmer the coconut milk with lemongrass and turmeric.
- 3Stir the flaked fish into the warm sauce.
- 4Pile the noodles into bowls.
- 5Pour the green fish gravy over the top.
- 6Add fresh cucumber and bean sprouts and enjoy this Khmer noodle dish.
Lok Lakแกแปแแกแถแแ
Makes 4 servingsIngredients
- 1 lb (450 g)Beef strips
- 2 tbspSoy sauce
- 1 tbspOyster sauce
- 1 tspSugar
- 1 cupLettuce and tomato
- to serveLime and pepper dip
How to Make It
- 1Toss the beef strips with the soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar.
- 2Let them marinate for 15 minutes.
- 3Ask a grown-up to stir-fry the beef in a hot pan for 2โ3 minutes until just cooked.
- 4Lay lettuce and tomato slices on a plate.
- 5Pile the beef on top.
- 6Mix lime juice with a little salt and pepper for dipping, and serve with rice.
Chaa Kdamแแถแแแแถแ
Makes 4 servingsIngredients
- 1 lb (450 g)Crab pieces (or shrimp)
- 1 tbspGreen peppercorns
- 3 clovesGarlic, chopped
- 2 tbspOyster sauce
- 2 stalksGreen onions
- 2 tbspOil
How to Make It
- 1Ask a grown-up to heat the oil in a wok until hot.
- 2Add the garlic and green peppercorns and stir for a few seconds until fragrant.
- 3Add the crab pieces and stir-fry for 3โ4 minutes.
- 4Pour in the oyster sauce and toss to coat everything.
- 5Add the green onions and stir for one more minute.
- 6Serve hot with rice โ a famous dish from Kampot.
Vocabulary
Cambodian food often mixes sweet, salty, and sour flavors together, similar to Thai food, but it's usually less spicy. Popular ingredients like lemongrass and ginger are loved in both countries, making for delicious and fresh meals.