The cuisine of Cambodia - Asia

The foods of Cambodia

Cambodian food (Khmer cuisine) is a flavorful, less-spicy Southeast Asian cuisine defined by rice, freshwater fish, aromatic herbs, and prahok (fermented fish paste). Key dishes include Fish Amok, Lok Lak (stir-fried beef), and Kuy Teav noodle soup, characterized by lemongrass, kaffir lime, and Kampot pepper. Street food often features grilled meats, baguettes, and unique fried insects.
Top Must-Try Dishes:
• Fish Amok (Amok Trei): Considered the national dish, this is a thick, creamy coconut curry steamed in banana leaves with freshwater fish.
• Lok Lak: Stir-fried beef or chicken, served with a lime, garlic, and Kampot pepper dipping sauce, along with fresh vegetables.
• Nom Banh Chok (Khmer Noodles): Often eaten for breakfast, this dish consists of rice noodles topped with a fish-based green curry gravy, fresh herbs, and cucumbers.
• Kuy Teav (Noodle Soup): A popular pork or beef broth soup with rice noodles, garlic, and herbs, often served for breakfast. • Samlar Machu: A sour soup commonly made with fish and pineapple.
• Lap Khmer (Beef Salad): Thinly sliced beef tossed with lime juice, shallots, and herbs.

Key Ingredients and Flavors
• Prahok: A fermented fish paste that provides a deep savory, or umami, flavor to many dishes.
• Kroeung: A fragrant paste made from lemongrass, turmeric, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves, used as a base for many curries and soups.
• Kampot Pepper: Famously aromatic pepper used for stir-fries and dipping sauces.
• Fresh Herbs: Mint, culantro (saw-toothed coriander), and basil are frequently added.

Dining Culture and Street Food

• Rice: Served with almost every meal.
• Breakfast: Often consists of Kuy Teav (noodle soup) or baguettes with pâté, influenced by French cuisine.
• Street Food: Grilled skewers (sach ko ang), fried bugs (crickets, spiders) are common in markets.
• Dining Style: Meals are usually shared, consisting of a soup, a salad, and a main stir-fry or curry

Cambodia - See the recipes

Appetizer recipes

Black bean and corn wontons

Main recipes

Honey- mustard pork roast Vietnamese lemongrass chicken Side dishes recipes coming soon
Dessert recipes coming soon

Black bean and corn wontons Honey- mustard pork roast Vietnamese lemongrass chicken

Cooking in Cambodia