Cuisine Culture_of_Laos

lao sticky rice , papaya salad

lao cuisine reflects ethnic diversity of country , surrounding neighbors. laos has strong regional variations among common dishes, glutinous rice (sticky rice) being staple of meals.

a common lao meal consist of richly spiced minced fish or chicken salad or larb, served sticky rice; jaew or paste made of chili peppers dipping; tam mak hung fiery , sour fresh green papaya salad, both based soup kaeng no mai (bamboo soup); fresh herbs , vegetables served raw; tropical fruit dessert; , served local beer or lao-lao rice liquor.

lao cuisine similar thai, several notable differences. lao meal whole appeals more extremes of sourness, bitterness, , spice in thai cuisine. lao cooking uses copious amounts of mak phaet (chilies), pa daek or fermented fresh water fish sauce, kaffir lime leaves, , galangal in greater amounts add bolder flavors dishes. glutinous rice eaten exclusively in ethnically lao areas.

the lao have greater consumption of wild game , insects known commonly “jungle food.” freshly killed game eaten raw in richly spiced dishes , seen delicacy. insects can eaten in variety of forms, more pungent types being used spices or substitutes, such common red fire ants lemon-like sourness in southern soups. smaller game typically barbecued , sold @ roadside stands.

thai influence on laos can seen in many of popular curry based dishes khao-pun commonly eaten during festivals. vietnamese dishes pho , spring rolls extremely popular throughout country. ethnic yunnanese chinese food common in vientiane, , reflected in fried dough dishes commonly sold street snacks. important side note in chinese or vietnamese noodle restaurants when lao use chopsticks. rice based dishes right hand , spoon eating implements. however, among hmong , yao, eat more varieties of long grain rice, eating hands considered rude.

the years of french colonialism have given laos number of food items including baguette or khao jii, omelets, pâté , croissants. french introduced coffee cultivation, strong variety found in southern laos near ban paxong desired. common lao breakfast reflects french influence , simple affair of strong coffee served hot or iced, , taken baguette or other pastry dipped in condensed milk.