Exotic Eats: Cambodia

Posted by on May 28, 2013 in Cambodia, Exotic Eats | 1 comment

The food in Cambodia was a wonderful mix of flavors influenced by many of its neighboring countries: Thailand, Vietnam, even a little bit of India.  We were fortunate to enjoy daily home cooked meals from our host family to really get a sense of authentic cuisine.  
 
We would wake up to some sort of sandwich with assorted processed meat and veggies on a French baguette for breakfast.  While we were enjoying breakfast, our host Grandma would normally emerge from the kitchen (in a full, crazy patterned, matching pajama outfit that the women in Cambodia are prone to wearing) with two lunch pails for us to bring to the orphanage.  Lunch normally consisted of a large portion of rice and stir-fry of chicken, beef, or pork and veggies.  It was always tasty and always enough to share with the people at the orphanage.  Dinners were varied and equally as delicious: more stir-fry packed with crisp vegetables and proteins, fish stews with fragrant herbs, and, of course, rice (the biggest staple food in Cambodia.).  One thing we became addicted to during our time in Cambodia was fresh mango.  Mangos are so prevalent throughout the country that they are extremely inexpensive. Our host family would buy them by the kilo….and we ate several a day.  They were sweet, juicy, and lovely and my mouth is watering right now just thinking about it.
 
Mike with lunch pails outside Phnom Penh house

Mike with lunch pails outside Phnom Penh house

In addition to our daily meals with the family, we did get a chance to sample some of the quintessential Cambodian food while eating out.  One favorite was a well known dish called Khmer Amok.  Amok refers to the process of steam cooking a curry in banana leaves.  While fish amok (amok trey) is the most well known, this dish can also contain chicken, beef, or shrimp as its main ingredient.  This focal ingredient is then covered with a kroeung (pounded shallots, lemongrass, garlic, kaffir, and lime), roasted crushed peanuts, coconut milk, and egg.  All of these components are wrapped in banana leaves and steamed until it achieves a mouse-like texture….and absolutely divine taste.  We liked it because it was flavorful without being too spicy.  
Amok Trey (Fish Amok)

Amok Trey (Fish Amok)

 

One Comment

  1. Will you be cooking this upon your return to the States?

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