Although not one of the popular destinations in Asia, Cambodia has become more and more known by travel enthusiasts with the desire to explore new lands. Besides famous spiritual and cultural works such as Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Cambodia also impresses tourists with delicious and unique specialties. The following article will introduce you to the unique cuisine and top 10 best dishes in Cambodia.
Introduction to Cambodian cuisine: a blend of history and flavor
Cambodian cuisine, also known as Khmer cuisine, is a rich mosaic woven from centuries of tradition, cultural exchange and the ingenuity of the local people. Influenced by neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and China, Khmer cuisine is notable for its balance of sweet, sour, salty and bitter flavors. When it comes to the origins of Cambodian cuisine, it is impossible to ignore the cuisine of the Khmer empire, a powerful kingdom that was destroyed by external factors in the 15th century. Today’s dishes still retain the very unique features of the ancient Khmer people, especially the dishes that have been passed down from that time to the present, such as Khmer red curry, Khmer sausage, etc.
Cambodian cuisine, or Khmer cuisine is one of the most oldest living cuisine
The dishes are all presented simply and familiarly but have very attractive flavors. It can be said that spices are one of the most important factors in perfecting the flavor of Cambodian dishes. Spices used in dishes are usually a mixture of many ingredients such as cloves, cinnamon, star anise, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger and turmeric. In addition, for special dishes, they may add some ingredients such as galangal, garlic, chives, lime, coriander and kaffir lime leaves. The flavor of this spice mixture is delicious, but extremely difficult to recreate without a recipe. Kroeung is the name that Cambodians call the above mixtures.
> > > Ready to experience these mouthwatering dishes firsthand? Join one of our Cambodia tours and dive into the heart of Khmer culture, where every meal tells a story and every destination brings new flavors to discover.
10 best dishes in Cambodia you must try
Amok Trey (Fish Amok)
Amok Trey is one of the most iconic dishes in Cambodia
This is one of the specialties that both locals and tourists love when traveling to this country. The main ingredients to make this dish are fresh snakehead fish, catfish or snakehead fish. To make this dish, the fish will first be filleted, then a special sauce will be poured over it from a mixture of ingredients including eggs, ginger, prahok fish sauce and palm sugar. Next, the fish and sauce mixture will be put into a container made from banana leaves to steam.
After the fish is steamed, it is covered with a layer of rich coconut milk on top, making the dish even more fragrant and attractive. Amok fish dish has the aroma of banana leaves, the fatty taste of eggs and coconut milk, and the spicy taste of ginger. This dish will impress you with its flavor, aroma and unique presentation.
Lap Khmer
Lap Khmer, or Khmer beef salad
Beef salad or Khmer beef salad is a dish that is loved by many tourists because of its easy-to-eat flavor, not too fussy ingredients, and quick preparation. Lap Khmer’s main ingredient is beef. After being rare by steaming, boiling or grilling on charcoal, the beef will be sliced into thin slices, then mixed with fish sauce, lemon juice, lemongrass, herbs, chili, … and other spices to create the full flavor of sour, spicy, salty and sweet of the dish.
Nom Banh Chok (Khmer Noodles)
Nom Banh Chok is one of the most popular breakfasts in Cambodia, just like pho in Vietnam
Fish curry noodles (Nom banh chok) is known as the spiritual food of Cambodia. You can enjoy them as a breakfast in eateries, restaurants or at street vendors at an extremely cheap price. The highlight of the dish lies in the beautiful yellow broth, meticulously cooked from prahok fish sauce and fresh snakehead fish, when eaten, it blends with noodles and raw vegetables. Although the broth is made from fish sauce and fish, it does not have an unpleasant fishy smell. Instead, when enjoying the dish, your taste buds will be satisfied by the extremely rich, fragrant broth, eaten with soft fresh rice noodles and raw vegetables such as lotus, banana flower, bean sprouts, mint, cucumber, …
Bai Sach Chrouk (Grilled Pork with Rice)
Bai Sach Chrouk
Bai Sach Chrouk, also known as Cambodian grilled meat and rice, is a popular and beloved dish in the land of pagodas. You can easily find street vendors selling this dish all over the streets. This is a popular breakfast and lunch dish for locals. Bai Sach Chrouk is a simple but extremely delicious dish. The highlight of this Cambodian specialty is fresh pork, marinated with coconut water, garlic and spices, then slowly grilled over hot coals. The rich, fragrant flavor of the meat when served with white rice and side dishes such as cucumber, pickled radish, etc. creates a unique culinary experience. A portion of pork rice will be served with a bowl of hot chicken soup.
Somlor Kari (or Cambodian red curry)
This dish is commonly served at parties or major cultural festivals
Traveling to Southeast Asian countries such as Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, etc., tourists are eager to enjoy delicious, flavorful curries. Each place will have a different way of preparing curry. Somlor Kari is considered a specialty dish because the ingredients are very sophisticated and unique. It has a milder spiciness than Thai curry because it is made from local red chili, creating a rich dish but still retains an elegant taste. Khmer red curry is made from beef or chicken (fish), cooked with tomatoes, green beans, potatoes, coconut milk, lemongrass and kroeung sauce, served with bread or hot rice. This dish often appears at parties or religious holidays.
Samlor Korkor (Vegetable Stew)
Samlor Korkor is a traditional Cambodian vegetable soup that has existed for generations
Samlor Korko is a traditional dish that has existed for hundreds of years and still holds a special place in the culinary culture of the land of pagodas. Samlor Korko is a rich soup with countless ingredients, including dozens of vegetables. This dish can be prepared with many different types of meat, but the most popular are catfish and pork belly. Along with that, to keep the full flavor of Samlor Korko, you cannot ignore two important ingredients: prahok – Cambodian fish sauce and kroeung – a delicious curry powder.
Kuy Teav
Kuy Teav, Cambodian noodle soup
This dish originated from the Chinese. After being introduced to Cambodia, the preparation and seasoning were adjusted to suit the local taste. The noodle dish has delicious chewy noodles, filled with broth stewed from bones, shrimp and dried squid. Served with minced meat and toppings such as liver, heart, shrimp, fresh squid… The bowl will include ingredients such as: noodles, dried shrimp, pork liver, fried onions, minced meat, raw vegetables served with a sweet and fragrant broth simmered from dried squid, marrow bones,… The special thing about the noodle dish here is that the broth has a rich, sweet flavor unlike any other dish. The noodles are soft but still retain their chewiness, the accompanying ingredients are fresh and rich.
Kdam Chaa
Kdam Chaa is the most famous seafood in Cambodia
The southern provinces of Cambodia, especially Kampot, are famous for their bustling crab markets, which specialize in serving crab fried with Kampot green pepper, a world-famous specialty pepper. Are you a seafood lover? Then don’t miss the Kampot green pepper crab – a famous specialty dish of Kep town. The dish is made from shell crab, Kampot pepper and spices such as garlic, onion, lemongrass, sesame oil… After frying the crab to a beautiful orange color and attractive aroma, people pour on it a sauce made from fish sauce, ginger and oyster sauce. The firm, sweet crab meat is seasoned to taste and suits the taste of many diners.
The spicy, fragrant flavor of Kampot green pepper gives the dish a unique, unforgettable flavor. In addition to green pepper crab, you should also try Chaa Kdam Kroeung, crab fried with curry sauce, another interesting variation of Kep cuisine.
> > > Explore more attractive Khmer seafood in Cambodia here.
Ang Dtray-Meuk
Ang Dtray-Meuk
In addition to crabs, Cambodia is also famous for its squid dishes. Ang Dtray Meuk, or grilled squid, is a typical dish of the coastal towns. You can see seafood vendors carrying small charcoal stoves on their shoulders, grilling squid right on the beach like in Sihanouk or Kep. The squid is marinated with fish sauce, then skewered on bamboo sticks and grilled over hot coals. The dish is served with Koh Kong spicy dipping sauce, made from Kampot pepper, garlic, fresh chili, fish sauce, lime juice and sugar.
> > > While the flavors of seafood are unforgettable, there’s so much more to explore in these charming coastal provinces, from their tranquil beaches to colonial ruins and scenic national park trails. Let’s embark on our guided tour Family Tour to Cambodia 11 Days.
Fried insects
Fried insects are popular among countries like Cambodia, Thailand or Laos
Fried insects are a street food that, although scary in appearance, are loved by many Cambodians, who consider it a nutritious snack with high protein content. They even raise some types of insects to meet the market demand, usually crickets, grasshoppers, scorpions, spiders, ants, water bugs, etc. Insects will be processed, marinated with a typical spice in Cambodia, then fried and sold to tourists. Fried insects are sold everywhere at very cheap prices, starting from only $0.50 for a skewer. They are seasoned with very typical Cambodian spices, then fried and sold to diners.
Cambodia is not only a country of ancient temples and brilliant cultural heritages, but also a culinary paradise, where you can explore impressive rich flavors. Cambodian cuisine is a harmonious combination of traditional flavors and creativity, bringing you delicious dishes. Above is a list of 10 delicious and popular Cambodian dishes that you must try. Hopefully with this list, you will have an interesting and memorable culinary journey.
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