Luang Prabang, Laos
Or Lam
ອໍ່ຫລາມ
Luang Prabang stew of buffalo or chicken with aubergine, wood ear, long bean and lemongrass, thickened with rice and given a numbing heat by sakhaan wood.
south-eastern-asia
Laos
Explore 52 foods connected to Laos, from everyday staples to rare local specialties.
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Laos Essentials
11 editor-selected foods for understanding the place through what people eat.
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Traditional foods from Laos.
52 foods in this view. Filter by category, type, rarity, or search every recorded name.
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Laos
Padaek
ປາແດກ
Freshwater fish fermented with rice bran and salt for a year or more into a thick, chunky, intensely pungent paste.
Laos
Pon
ປົ່ນ
Fish or meat boiled soft and pounded with chilli, garlic, herbs and padaek into a thick, spicy purée served as a dip.
Laos
Pumpkin Custard
ສັງຂະຫຍາໝາກອຶ
Coconut and egg custard poured into a hollowed kabocha squash and steamed until set, then cut into wedges.
Laos
Roasted Aubergine Dip
ແຈ່ວໝາກເຂືອ
Aubergine blackened over coals, peeled and pounded with garlic, chilli, fish sauce and herbs into a soft grey dip.
Laos
Roasted Tomato Dip
ແຈ່ວໝາກເລັ່ນ
Tomatoes, garlic, shallot and chilli charred over coals then pounded with padaek and coriander into a smoky, chunky dip.
Laos
Sai Kok
ໄສ້ກອກ
Chunky fermented pork sausage with rice and garlic, left to sour for a day or two before grilling.
Chiang Mai, Laos
Sai ua
ໄສ້ອົ່ວ
Sai ua, the Northern Thai herb sausage packed with lemongrass, kaffir lime and curry paste, is Chiang Mai's defining product.
Luang Prabang, Laos
Sakhaan
ສະຄ້ານ
Woody pepper vine cut into short lengths and simmered in stews, giving a numbing, resinous heat; the pieces are chewed and spat out.
Laos
Seen Dat
ຊີ້ນດາດ
Table barbecue on a domed metal griddle: meat grills on the dome while broth and vegetables simmer in the moat around it.
Laos
Sesame Beef Jerky
ຊີ້ນສະຫວັນ
Thinner strips of dried beef coated in sesame seed and sugar, sweeter than plain jerky and more brittle.
Laos
Som Moo
ສົ້ມໝູ
Pork and pork skin cured with rice, garlic and salt until sour, wrapped in banana leaf and eaten raw or grilled.
Laos
Stuffed Eggs
ໄຂ່ຄວາມ
Boiled egg yolks mashed with herbs, fish sauce and chilli, spooned back into the whites and deep-fried.
Laos
Tom Jeaw Pa
ຕົ້ມແຈ່ວປາ
Clear sour fish soup with lemongrass, galangal, dill and padaek, deliberately thin and sharp.
Laos
Tom Padaek
ຕົ້ມປາແດກ
Fish stewed hard in fermented fish liquor with lemongrass, chilli, aubergine and dill until the broth turns thick and murky.
Bangkok, Thailand
Tom Yum Goong
ต้มยำกุ้ง
Hot and sour shrimp soup with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and chili paste.