Eat Like a Local, The Cuisine of Cambodia
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Cuisine in the Kingdom of Angkor
Food Basics
Although it shares similarities with its Thai neighbor, Cambodian food is also influenced by Indian, Vietnamese, and Chinese cuisine. Cambodian cuisine is mostly known for its use of Prahok— a fermented fish sauce with a very distinctive flavor that adds a salty tang to most dishes (however it is never used with a noodle dish).
Although noodles are popular, the staple in Cambodian food is rice, which is served with almost every meal. Most meals also include soup that is served with the main dishes. Freshwater fish is also a fundamental part of most Cambodian diets, more popular than any other kind of meat.
Most Cambodian meals include three or four separate dishes, each of which usually tries to give something different (with individual dishes hitting different taste buds by either being sweet, sour, salty, or bitter). Cambodian diets also include a variety of spices, kroeung, vegetables, fruits, meats (including frog, turtle, and tarantulas), and noodles. Most fresh food items are bought and sold at the town market and from street vendors.
Etiquette
Unlike the United States, where most meals are consumed in an informal setting, Cambodians have certain etiquette dos and don’ts. You should always drink when a toast is made as well as wait for your host to sit down before you do- it is also considered rude to not accept food placed in your bowl by your host.
You should learn to use chopsticks before going to Asia-it is seen as polite, but never place your chopsticks to form a V in a bowl in any setting (it is a symbol of death). An appropriate tip amount is 5-10% in a restaurant, unless there is a service charge already on your bill (automatic tip).
Popular Dishes
Amok Trey- Fish that is in a thick coconut milk with curry, wrapped in a banana leaf, and then steamed.
Jroak Sway- Generally served as a side dish, it is unripe mango salad that is flavored with peppers and fish sauce.
Ansom Chrook- A rice cake that is filled with mung bean paste and pork, then wrapped with banana leaves.
Somlar Machu- A sour soup that can include meats like chicken or fish. It has a tamarind base and also includes herbs, tomatoes, water greens, lotus roots, and is often flavored with prahok.
Contributed by jessica_ledford
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