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Cambodian CuisinePublished: Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:33:00 -0500 Cambodian cuisine remains one of the most diverse that I have ever seen. Traditional Cambodian foods, many that no one in the United States has ever heard of, are both tasty and unique. Certain delicacies leave foreigners with a rather revolting feeling but other foods are well-liked among people from all over the world. The fruit that grows in Cambodia cannot always be found in the United States. When the same fruit can be compared in the United States and in Cambodia, the fruit in Cambodia is usually far better. Without a doubt, having a meal in Cambodia qualifies as a unique experience.
The many fruits found in Cambodia are popular all over the world. Mango and pineapple, both found in Cambodia, can be found at many grocery stores in the United States and other parts of the world. However, fresh pineapple in Cambodia and pineapple in the United States differ greatly when it comes to flavor. Almost everyone agrees that Asian pineapple tastes fresh and juicy compared to the pineapple found in other parts of the world. But there are other fruits in Cambodia that are not as easy to find in the United States. The jackfruit, for instance, can weigh up to 110 pounds, and is found mostly in Southeast Asia. Other fruits never tasted by me until moving to Cambodia include the bright pink dragonfruit, the strawberry-like mangosteen, and the infamous durian.
The durian fruit, possibly the most controversial fruit in Asia, is often called the “King of the Fruits.” Many Asians love durian, although most foreigners cannot stand to get within ten yards of the fruit. Durian can be smelled from very far away. The smell is not pleasant. Many people compare the smell of a durian to dirty socks, left in a shoe for a week. Most foreigners cannot get near the fruit--many fewer eat it. Many hotels and grocery stores have actually banned the fruit! Despite its nickname, the “King of the Fruits” is almost as unpopular as it is popular.
Many things that would never be eaten in the United States are considered a perfectly acceptable food in Cambodia, sometimes even a delicacy. Two foods found in Cambodia (although not widely eaten) are dog and cat meat. Cat is quite rare and can only be found at certain restaurants. Dog, however, is a bit more common. Most Cambodians do not eat dog, but due to the amount of stray dogs, the Prime Minister of Cambodia suggested that Cambodians eat more dog meat. Jay Leno on the Tonight Show then joked, “What do you call a dog wagging his tail on the streets of Cambodia?” The answer? “A Happy Meal!”
Those are not the only unusual foods found in Cambodia. Far more common than dog and cat are paddy rat and tarantulas. Paddy rat, eaten primarily among the Vietnamese population in Cambodia, is a rat found in rice fields. After catching and cooking the rats, many people enjoy eating the paddy rat. Better known than the paddy rat, however, is the spider. Large spiders, about seven inches across (including the legs), are fried and eaten as a delicacy. Many foreign tourists try the spider. Some actually enjoy it!
Most foods in Cambodia are not as unusual as the spider, or as varied as the many fruits. Most Cambodians eat mainly rice, often with fish. Cambodia is filled with rice fields and fishermen fish on the Mekong, Bassac, and the Tonle Sap rivers. Uncooked duck eggs (containing an entire baby duck) and noodles are sold in the streets for low prices. Aside from fish and rice, Cambodians also eat pork and sometimes chicken. Popular foods at celebrations include curry, potatoes, French bread, giant shrimp, and duck.
Without its wide assortment of food, Cambodia would be a very different place. No one would smell the wafting scent of curry, chicken, and noodles on the street corners. No one would see trees filled with huge coconuts. Tourists would not ooh and ah over the fried spiders and children would not be seen climbing trees to pick un-ripened mangoes. The many foods are a unique part of Cambodia.
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