Have you ever ever tried sticky rice, fish sauce, and different Lao meals? If sure, you should know that Lao delicacies is a powerful concoction of various substances that makes scrumptious, finger-licking gadgets one can’t keep with out. And for those who plan to go to Laos quickly, studying some meals substances in Lao, like ໝາກໄມ້ (Fruits), ຜັກ (greens), and so forth., is a should. Earlier than you get pleasure from Lao delicacies, it is just truthful to undergo the totally different mixes of spices and contemporary herbs that the locals use to proffer the delicacy of marvel.
This publish will particularly take you on a Lao meals ingredient journey that can familiarize you with all the normal Lao meals parts and on a regular basis kitchen gadgets within the native language. In case you are excited to study, let’s get proper into it.
Generally Used Meals Elements In Lao

Now we’ll study in regards to the substances that Laotian dishes can’t survive with out. These are the weather that each ethnic Lao meals merchandise is fabricated from.
1. Chilies – ໝາກເຜັດ
The primary commonest ingredient is ໝາກເຜັດ. Pronounced as makphed, no Laotian meals could be excellent with out the trace of chilies. From chili peppers to chili powder, makphed play a significant position in proffering the genuine spicy meals that each native is pleased with. Particularly for meals like spicy salad, Khao Poon (Spicy noodle soup), and meat fry, chilies add flavors that one can’t overlook.
2. Bamboo Shoot – ໜໍ່ໄມ້
The important ingredient in making extra ethnic Lao dishes is contemporary bamboo shoots, referred to as nomai. From rooster curry, Bamboo stew to Keng no mai of northern Laos, all of the traditional Laotian meals gadgets rely extremely on the flavour and aroma of bamboo shoots. In case you are new to this cooking type, you’ll fall in love immediately.
3. Inexperienced Papaya – ໝາກຫຸ່ງຂຽວ
One other potent ingredient within the Laos kitchen is the inexperienced papaya referred to as makhung khiav or mak hoong. The feel and gentle taste of the unripe fruit of the papaya tree are extremely used to provide strong flavors and tenderize meat. And as we all know, the papaya salad is already a well-known dish that makes the inexperienced fruit considered one of a form in Laos tradition.
4. Yanang Leaf – ໃບຍາງ
One thing that should be fairly new to you, the ໃບຍາງ or bai nyang comes from a climbing plant with inexperienced leaves and yellow flowers. It’s utilized in nearly each conventional soup merchandise to thicken the liquid and provides the dish a contemporary aroma. It’s fairly widespread in Cambodia as effectively.
5. Contemporary Herbs – ສະໝຸນໄພສົດ
Contemporary herbs like lemongrass, basil, coriander, inexperienced onion, mung bean sprouts, and so forth., are the first substances in Laotian meals. Regardless of how savory or candy an merchandise you order, you’ll at all times discover the trace of contemporary herbs within the dish that leaves behind a wonderful aroma and style.
6. Buffalo Pores and skin – ຜິວໜັງຄວາຍ
As shocking because it sounds, ຜິວໜັງຄວາຍ or phiuanang khuaai is a novel Lao ingredient that each native of Luang Prabang retains protected of their kitchen. Lao stew with dried pores and skin and the Vheo Bong, a cold paste made with buffalo pores and skin, are the 2 favourite gadgets you possibly can attempt. Moreover buffalo pores and skin, boiled pork pores and skin can be generally consumed, and plenty of uncommon and mouthwatering dishes are developed with it.
7. Salt – ເກືອ
Coming to a extra widespread ingredient, no meals could be full and not using a trace of salt. And in terms of Lao meals, locals are strict with savory meals being salty and never candy. They contemplate it unnatural to make savory meals candy in any proportion and have inflexible boundaries between salty and candy dishes.
8. Rice Flour – ແປ້ງເຂົ້າ
The place crispy rooster meat and fish gadgets are involved, ແປ້ງເຂົ້າ or aepng khao is important. Though seafood will not be widespread, you will see many issues that may make you go loopy. Primarily, to make crispy fillets or nuggets, locals use aepng khao to wrap the merchandise after which fry it until crispy. It tastes mindblowing, and you should undoubtedly check out their deep-fried seafood gadgets.
Totally different Meals Elements In Lao

Now we’ll dive into totally different substances beneath totally different classes. From inexperienced leafy greens to condiments, we’ll uncover translation of each part that an ordinary meals merchandise requires to be complete.
Condiments – ເຄື່ອງປຸງ (Kheuong Pung)
English | Lao | Pronunciation |
Bay leaves | ໃບ Bay | bai Bay |
Black pepper | ພິກໄທດຳ | phik thaidam |
Cloves | ຫົວຜັກທຽມ | hua phak thiam |
Chilli Powder | ໝາກເຜັດ | makphed |
Cardamon | ໝາກແໜ່ງ | mak aenng |
Cumin seeds | ແກ່ນຜັກກູດ | aekn phak kud |
Fennel seeds | ແກ່ນ fennel | aekn fennel |
Fish sauce | ນ້ຳປາ | nam pa |
Garlic powder | ຜົງຜັກທຽມ | phong phak thiam |
Mustard seeds | ເມັດ mustard | med mustard |
Onion powder | ຜົງຜັກບົ່ວ | phong phakbov |
Paprika | ໝາກເຜັດ | makphed |
Soy sauce | ຊື່ອິ່ວ | su iv |
Thyme | ໝາກເຜັດ | makphed |
Fruits – ໝາກໄມ້ (Makmai)
English | Lao | Pronunciation |
Avocado | ອາໂວກາໂດ | a ov ka od |
Apple | ໝາກໂປມ | mak opm |
Banana | ກ້ວຍ | kuany |
Berries | ຫມາກໄມ້ປ່າເມັດ | makmai pa med |
Guava | ໝາກກ້ຽງ | makkiang |
Kiwi | ກີວີ | ki vi |
Oranges | ໝາກກ້ຽງ | makkiang |
Peaches | ໝາກເຜັດ | makphed |
Papaya | ໝາກຫຸ່ງ | makhung |
Strawberries | ສະຕໍເບີຣີ | sato boe ri |
Watermelon | ໝາກໂມ | makom |
Greens – ຜັກ (Phak)
English | Lao | Pronunciation |
Beans | ຖົ່ວ | thov |
Cucumber | ໝາກແຕງ | makaetng |
Carrots | ແຄລອດ | aekhlod |
Corn | ສາລີ | sali |
Inexperienced onions | ຜັກບົ່ວຂຽວ | phakbov khiav |
Mushroom | ເຫັດ | hed |
Peas | ຖົ່ວ | thov |
Potatoes | ມັນຕົ້ນ | manton |
Tomato | ຫມາກເລັ່ນ | mak len |
Yam | ຢ້າມ | yam |
Leafy Greens – ໃບສີຂຽວ (Bai Sikhiav)
English | Lao | Pronunciation |
Broccoli | ບຣັອກໂຄລີ | braok okh li |
Cabbage | ກະລໍ່າປີ | ka loa pi |
Celery | ຜັກຕັ້ງໂອ | phak tang o |
Cauliflower | ດອກແຄ | dok aekh |
Kale | ຜັກກາດ | phakkad |
Lettuce | ຜັກກາດຫອມ | phakkad hom |
Spinach | ຜັກຊະນິດໜ່ຶງ | phak sanid nung |
Spring onion | ຜັກບົ່ວພາກຮຽນ spring | phakbouaphakhian spring |
Meat – ຊີ້ນ (Sin) And Seafood – ອາຫານທະເລ (Ahanthale)
English | Lao | Pronunciation |
Beef | ຊີ້ນງົວ | sinngua |
Bacon | ເບຄອນ | be khon |
Rooster | ໄກ່ | kai |
Rooster leg | ຂາໄກ່ | khakai |
Crab | ປູ | pu |
Lobster | Lobster | Lobster |
Lamb | ລູກແກະ | luk kae |
Mutton | ເນື້ອແກະ | neu kae |
Octopus | ປາຫມຶກ | pa muk |
Oysters | ຫອຍນາງລົມ | hony nang lom |
Prawn | ກຸ້ງ | kung |
Pork | ຫມູ | mu |
Turkey | ຕຸລະກີ | tu la ki |
Tuna | ປາທູນາ | pathu na |
Wholesome Sauce – ຊອດສຸຂະພາບ (Sod Sukhaphab)
English | Lao | Pronunciation |
Lime juice | ນ້ໍາປູນຂາວ | noa punkhav |
Olive oil | ນ້ໍາມັນຫມາກກອກ | n o a person mak kok |
Sesame oil | ນ້ຳມັນງາ | namman nga |
The Lao Delicacies: Southeast Asian Meals Tradition
Now that some vocabulary about substances in Lao, this part provides you with a fast peek on the Lao meals tradition. In case you are a first-time traveler or a beginner within the nation, the next info and ideas will turn out to be a major asset in having fun with your keep in a pure native type. So, let’s start.
Lao Meals Details
In case you have been to Thai eating places or have tried Thai delicacies, you will see a number of similarities between the meals in Laos and Thailand. It’s majorly as a result of each nations eat sticky rice, fish sauce, and different dishes which have the identical contact on the flavors. Nonetheless, earlier than the natives assault, it’s important to say that they don’t seem to be the identical.
Whereas Thai meals and Lao dishes could be comparable, Lao meals are extra simple and have a delicate style. Lao dishes have extra herbs and greens that aren’t simmered. To achieve their distinctive style, the locals use fermented fish sauce, which is typical of the nation and makes dishes much less elaborate than Thai delicacy. Nonetheless, when you go to Lao eating places, you’ll notice that Laotian delicacies is way spicier and extra keen on condiments than Thai.
Aside from the variations, Laos is the most important shopper of sticky rice. Though sticky rice is kind of widespread in Vietnam, Thai, Cambodia, and different Asian nations, no person consumes it in an quantity equal to the Laotian folks. It’s believed that the Lao sticky rice is the glue that holds the Lao group collectively, and it has turn out to be an id of the Laotian tradition that the natives maintain expensive to their hearts.
One other widespread truth of the Laotian meals tradition is that Lao meals usually encompass greens and soup. In reality, in each nook of southeast Asia, greens and soups play a significant position within the meals tradition. Nonetheless, the thick Lao stew or the spicy inexperienced papaya salad with soy sauce is a nationwide signature of the Laotian folks, and you will see these aspect dishes in each place you go to within the nation. The greens are often uncooked, contemporary, or steamed, served with sticky rice, grilled rooster, and soups.
Essentially the most well-known Lao dish is Laap. It’s a minced meat salad that’s, once more, served with herbs and soup. It’s thought-about the nationwide dish of Laos.
High Laotian Dishes To Strive Out!
Here’s a checklist of one of the best dishes you should attempt with out failure throughout your keep. Incorporate Lao dishes into your urge for food and bless your self with a novel tradition.
- Khao Niaw sticky rice basket (Steamed sticky rice)
- Larb or Laap (marinated meat or Minced meat)
- Khao Piak Sen (moist noodles)
- khao poon nam prik (rooster soup with coconut milk)
- Sai Oua (natural pork sausage)
- Bia Lao (Lao beer)
- Khao Jee (baguette)
- Or Lam (Lao stew)
- Som Moo (fermented pork sausage)
- Tam Mak Hoong (papaya salad)
Get pleasure from Laotian Meals!
Now that what to eat and what parts to make use of whereas cooking, I’m fairly positive you’ll have a splendid time in Laos. Visiting a rustic wealthy in culinary habits and realizing these phrases and info will provide help to adapt to the surroundings and relish the tradition as an precise native particular person. Furthermore, additionally, you will make many new pals together with your language abilities and obtain a healthful response.
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