You cannot fully appreciate your experience in Cambodia without trying the food!  Not only is it exotic, it is tasty and nutritious!  Amok and Prahok are two of the countries’ most famous examples.

Cambodian food is inherently different from the cuisine of its neighbors.  The flavors used in Cambodian dishes come from spices and herbs with little uses of fats and meats.  Fish is the main meat used in Cambodian food.  Cambodian cuisine also tends to balance the four tastes (saltiness, sweet, sour and bitter) as equally as possible and also prioritizes texture over other elements.  Fruit and vegetables accompany many Cambodian meals, guaranteeing a healthy and nutritious meal every time.

Amok is a steamed fish and meat curry dish coated in thick coconut milk and Kroeung (a herb paste used in Cambodia for flavoring).  Galangal, lemongrass, turmeric and other spices and herbs are common ingredients in Kroeung.  The fish or meat is usually steamed (and sometimes baked) enclosed within a banana leaf.  The herb paste is added on later right before consuming.

The traditional and most popular ingredient in Amok is fish.  However, other ingredients can be used instead of fish such as pork, beef, tofu, bamboo shoots, eggs, chicken, seaweed and even escargot (snail).

Amok is the perfect introduction to Cambodia cuisine.  Compared to Indian curry, it is milder and because of the coconut milk in this dish, it is not too different from Thai curries.

Along with Kroeung, Prahok is a popular paste in Cambodian cuisine.  Prahok is a crushed fermented fish paste which accompanies rice and other dishes as a seasoning or condiment.  The dish originated as a way of preserving fish during the longer months when fresh fish was not readily available.

The paste can give off a strong and unique aroma, which may put some people off from trying Prahok, but like other Southeast Asian dishes, the taste is what defines the food.  Prahok is cooked or fried but usually never eaten raw because of the health risks involved.

If you are planning a trip to Cambodia and would like to try your hand in preparing Amok or any other Cambodia dish, then EXO Travel would like to recommend the Cambodia Culture & Cuisine tour.  Experience Cambodia’s unique culture in Phnom Penh as well as admiring the magnificent Angkor Wat in Siem Reap.  After your enlightening tour, your cooking instructor and you will head to the market, buy the necessary ingredients and then come back to the kitchen for your Cambodian food preparation experience!  If you are in Siem Reap and there is little time on your schedule, you may elect to pursue our one day Culinary Cambodia – Siem Reap package instead.  Cambodia is a diverse and wonderful country and you can see our suggested Cambodia tours page for other exciting experiences in this wonderful country.