9 Best Dishes To Try On Your Cambodia Vacation Package
Cambodians adore food! Cambodian food is perhaps the most underrated among all Asian cuisines and is often stereotyped as Vietnamese or Thai. In reality, it is something unique with incredible flavors and fresh ingredients. Unlike cuisines of neighboring countries, it is relatively mild and has a lot of pickled and tangy flavors. While rice is a staple in Cambodia, the cuisine here has an abundance of steaming, yummy curries and exciting noodle dishes that helps in keeping the taste buds exhilarated all day long. It can be perfectly described as elite cuisine with varied and high-quality ingredients.
Despite its rich flavors and distinct charm, this cuisine is lesser known to the world than other renowned dishes of neighboring Asian countries. However, with the increase in tourism, it is now gaining popularity beyond the country's borders, and people are looking forward to experiencing it from different parts of the world.
If you are intrigued by Cambodian cuisine, trust us, the only place to experience it to the fullest is the country itself. Booking a Cambodia vacation package and trying your hands on the local food is part of the overall experience to add to your lifelong memories. But the real task is just about knowing what to order. With this in mind, we have come up with this article. Here we have rounded up the best traditional foods that need to be on your culinary bucket list on Cambodia vacation packages.
So, scroll down and allow yourself to learn about this cuisine.
1. Kuy teav
This is one of the most famous street foods with which most Cambodians prefer to start their day. While most Southeast Asian countries have their own version of noodle soup, Cambodia is no exception. Kuy teav is Cambodia's version made from pork or beef stock and rice vermicelli and later topped with bean sprouts and green onions. This flavorsome soup is traditional food and is sold everywhere, right from street food stalls to high-end eateries. If you are booking a Cambodia vacation package, this is one of the dishes that we highly recommend trying.
Main Ingredients- Rice Noodles, Pork Stock
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2. Amok
Probably the most famous Cambodian dish, Amok is another suggestion that every traveler must consider on their Cambodia vacation package. This dish is a delicious creamy curry full of typical Cambodian flavors and held in esteem as Cambodia’s signature dish. It is usually prepared with chicken, fish, or shrimp, plus some vegetables in coconut milk and kroeung curry, which tastes divine. Although it is less spicy than the one served in neighboring countries, it is zesty and flavorful, adding to its beauty. With so many flavors, strong taste, and characteristic bitterness, trying this dish on your Cambodia vacation package will make it hard for you to forget its taste.
Main Ingredients- Goby Fish, Snakehead Fish Or Catfish, Yellow or Green Kroeung, Coconut Cream or Coconut Milk, and Eggs.
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3. Nom Banh Chok
Popularly known as Khmer noodles, Nom Banh Chok is a beloved Cambodian dish that you can easily find on the streets or in local markets during breakfast time. It is typically a bowl of thin rice noodles topped with green fish gravy, fresh bean sprouts, banana flowers, and a wide array of fresh vegetables. Also, edible flowers and wild leaves are heaped on top, making it not just appetizing but also appealing to the eyes. If you are looking forward to enjoying it on your Cambodia vacation package, you can easily find women selling it in baskets balanced by a pole on their shoulders.
Main Ingredients- Rice Vermicelli, Yellow Kroeung, Prahok, Freshwater Fish, Coconut Milk/Coconut Cream, Bean Sprouts, Cucumber, Water Lily Stems, and Wing Beans.
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4. Khmer Red Curry
This is another delicacy that holds a special place in the hearts of all the foodies and is a must-try on Cambodia vacation package. It is a popular curry dish primarily prepared in the country for big events like weddings, family reunions, and festivals. As its name suggests, it is red in color but is less spicy than the one served in Thailand. It is prepared with coconut milk which makes it easy to enjoy without burning your mouth. Other than that, various other ingredients are used like beef, chicken or fish, eggplant, green beans, etc., and it is often served with sweet and soft bread that tastes perfect with salty and spicy curry.
Main Ingredients- Coconut Milk, Chicken, Eggplant, Green Beans, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, and Red Curry Paste called Kroeung.
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5. Prahok Ktis
Prahok is a grey, fermented fish paste that has a pungent and salty flavor. This contains thousands of delicacies as it is used throughout the cuisine. Prahok Ktis is an entry-level recipe that is prepared with this famous sauce. This dish is deliciously rich and is prepared with fermented fish sauce and fresh crispy vegetables. The best part that makes it a must-try dish on the Cambodia vacation package is that one can easily tone down the amount of prahok used to match the Western palates.
Main Ingredients- Pea Eggplant, Bird's Eye Chili, Prahok Paste, Angkor Lemongrass Paste, Angkor California Chili Powder, Coconut Cream, Angkor Thnot Sugar, Makrut Lime Leaves, Ground Pork, and Fresh and Crispy Vegetables.
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6. Bai Sach Chrouk
Bai Sach Chrouk, which is Barbecue pork with rice, is one of the simplest and most delicious dishes that this country has to offer. This popular delicacy is regarded as Cambodia’s national breakfast dish and is served in every nook and corner of the country. To prepare this dish, thin grilled pork slices are marinated in coconut milk and garlic and served with broken rice along with fresh vegetables. The slow-grilled over warm coals provide the pork with smoky sweetness and an unforgettable taste. If a fish-based curry isn't really your style, then this is a perfect breakfast choice for you on your Cambodia vacation package.
Main Ingredients- Pork and Rice
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7. Green mango salad
No Cambodia vacation package of a foodie is complete without trying Green mango salad. It is a renowned bowl of salad that is packed with a refreshing feel and punch of flavors. While the recipe is quite similar to the Thai papaya salad, Cambodians came up with their own version by adding green mango instead of unripe papaya. This salad is prepared with fresh chili, fish sauce, sliced green mango, sliced tomatoes and shallots, pickled cucumber, onion, peppers, and fresh basil or mint, which offers a crunchy and zesty flavor. With so much in one single bowl, this salad is a must-try on your Cambodia vacation package.
Main Ingredients- Dried Shrimp, Green Mango, Lime Juice, Sugar, Fish Sauce, Mint, and Roasted Cashews.
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8. Num Pang
Num Pang is a word synonymous with both bread and sandwiches. “Num” loosely translates to snack, and “Pang” is the local pronunciation of the French word for bread. It is a Cambodian mystery meat sandwich ideal for offering your tastebuds a break from the usual ham and cheese sandwich. This toothsome sandwich features fresh baguettes with a local style peppercorn and pork pate and is further dressed with butter. To enhance its taste, this sandwich is served with the addition of bright herbs, green papaya salads, fresh pickles, and punchy chili sauce. Make sure you get your hands on this sandwich and enjoy something different on your Cambodia vacation package.
Main Ingredients- Demi-Baguette, Mayonnaise, Rustic French Country Pâté, Cold Cuts, Cucumber Skin, Carrots and Daikon, Birds Eye Chillies, and Coriander.
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9. Lap Khmer
The final recommendation we have for you is a delectable bowl of beef salad. Lap Khmer is a Cambodian version of a marinated beef salad that is a perfect take on ceviche as it is prepared with well-done slices of beef marinated in lime juice with shallots, fish sauce, basil, mint, garlic, and bell peppers. This whole thing is further topped with lots of chilies that offer extremely bold flavors to amplify the taste. This salad bowl has a great taste and is often enjoyed as a bar snack at local beer gardens. However, if you aren’t too big on spice, make sure you are careful while you try this on your Cambodia vacation package.
Main Ingredients- Beef Tenderloin, Garlic, Lemongrass, Prahok, Lime Juice, Fish Sauce, Sugar, Red Onion, Yardlong Beans, Soybean Sprouts, Rice, Mint, Basil, Cilantro, and Red Hot Peppers.
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Conclusion
We have a handful of options for you to treat your tastebuds with appetizing local cuisine on your Cambodia vacation package. Make sure you try most of these delicacies on your vacation, as it will not just satiate your hunger but will also help you learn about the country’s rich heritage.
Believe us; once you try this cuisine, you will soon fall in love with it. So, without giving much thought, book your Cambodia vacation package, and dive into the world of flavors.
Happy food trails!
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