Khmer Cuisine

Khmer Cuisine- Its History

Cambodian cuisine is a strong indication of the ancient Khmer civilization and its long colonial history. The word Khmer is derived from the Pallava language of southern India that refers to predominant ethnic group, food, and language of Cambodia.

Khmers are considered descendants of mixed ethnic group combining Indians and natives of South East Asians who first migrated and inhabited South East Asia region originally called Austroasiatic region since over 3,000 years ago. It wasn’t certain whether the migration from the north was due to invading Tibetans or due to agricultural purposes since fertile land along major rivers was suitable for growing crops.

In its early days, the Khmer’s language, religion, and cultures were heavily influenced by Indian and Chinese traders as evidenced by the introduction of noodles and curry in Khmer cuisine.  The use of coconut milk and turmeric to make curries and desserts shows traces of Indian influence. In fact, one of the popular Khmer dishes is Amok or steamed fish cake made from curry mixed with coconut milk and wrapped in banana leaves. Thais have the same dish but called it Hormok.

Because of its location to many waterways, the staples of Cambodians remain fish and rice. Fish is the most common meat as they are abundant from the Mekong River, Bassac River and Tonlé Sap (the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia) and can even be freshly caught from rice paddies. Fish can be grilled and called Trey Aing, fried with vegetables called Trey Chean Neung Spe, added to sour soup called Samlor, fermented into paste called Prahok. Prahok is an integral ingredient of Khmer cuisine to add salty taste when friend with meat and chilli or eaten as dips with boiled vegetables. Prahok is a very authentic Khmer cuisine. In Thailand, the similar fermented paste is made from small shrimps called Kapi while the Philippines called it Bagoong (pronounced as Bah-Go-Ong).

Going back a little bit to the history. Khmer empire was much bigger before than today (refer to Map 1: Cambodia Today). During the 9th to 13th century, the empire extended to include parts of today’s Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Burma, and Malaysia and made Angkor its capital (refer to Map 2: Khmer Empire).

Following the decline of Khmer empire in the 13th- 14th century, Sukhothai Kingdom and Ayutthaya Kingdom of Siam (old name of Thailand) ascended and annexed part of Khmer including the capital city of Angkor (refer to Map 3: Ayutthaya Kingdom).  The Khmer was forced to move to a new capital city, Phnom Penh in 1434 by King Ponhea Yat. Ever since then, this part of Khmer remained under Siamese territory for more than 400 years. This is why Khmer cuisine received much Thai influence and vice versa. It shares many common dishes with Thai food, but generally not as spicy and sweeter. For example, jasmine rice, glutinous rice, fermented fish paste eaten with boiled vegetables, and sour spicy soups using galangal, lemongrass and kaffir leaves.

Due to Siamese and Vietnamese continuous invasion, Cambodia appealed to French for protection and became a French protectorate in 1864. For nearly a century, Cambodia was drawn into the French Indochina union which includes southern Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Interestingly, in the olden times, the Khmer called Vietnam ‘Khmer Krom.’ Sharing the same colonial heritage being part of Indochina Union, it borrowed many dishes from Vietnam and adapted to suit their tastes. Moreover, as a French legacy, Cambodians were taught to eat baguettes (long French bread) with pâté (minced meat spread), sardines, or eggs as breakfast.  It is usually accompanied with strong black coffee in sweet condensed milk.

Post World War II, King Norodom Sihanouk proclaimed its independence in 1953 but later overthrew by General Lon Nol who changed Kingdom of Cambodia to a Republic. Political situation remained chaotic in Cambodia. Only 5 years after came the notorious genocidal period of Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot. As mentioned by Sachin and Manish, this period destroyed the country and left people emotionally marred. Four years after the brutal period, in 1979, Vietnam ousted the Khmer Rouge and slowly rebuilding the country for more than 10 years. The situation was rescued when the United Nations intervened in 1992 and helped restored monarchy in 1993 until today.

It is fascinating how Khmer’s long tumultuous history can be depicted through Khmer cuisines. How a variety of its menus created from unique blend of ingredients show traces of cultural influences from India, China, Thailand, Vietnam and France. And, this is what makes Khmer cuisine authentic and special.

Linibel (sent from Kai’s blog account due to some technical problem)

2,614 thoughts on “Khmer Cuisine

  1. مرکز عرضه گوسفند زنده روز و سایر دام زنده اعم از گوساله گوشتی، گاو گوشتی، شتر، بز ، بره و مواردی هم شامل طیور که مربوط به مرغ زنده و خروس زنده می باشد. برای دسترسی آسان به مقالات مربوط به هر یک از این موارد کافیست از طریق گوگل اقدام به جستجو کنید. قیمت گوشت گوسفندی در دیجیکالا، سایت های خبری و اقتصادی به صورت کلی درج میشود.
    memari98.com/price-sheep

  2. بازسازی منزل
    ,
    بازسازی خانه , بازسازی ساختمان , نوسازی و تعمیر ساختمان
    هزینه بازسازی خانه ، بازسازی ساختمان از صفر تا صد و انجام کلیه خدمات ساختمانی شامل تعویض درب و پنجره و کابینت آشپزخانه ، اجرای سقف کاذب و کفپوش و…..

  3. بازسازی خانه
    ,
    بازسازی منزل, بازسازی ساختمان , نوسازی و تعمیر ساختمان
    هزینه بازسازی خانه ، بازسازی ساختمان از صفر تا صد و انجام کلیه خدمات ساختمانی شامل تعویض کابینت آشپزخانه درب و پنجره و کابینت آشپزخانه ، اجرای سقف کاذب و کفپوش و…..

  4. https://dumpsarchive.com/ provides you the best opportunity to build your career by obtaining industry-demanding IT certifications. If you chose to stay with Dumpsarchive’ Exam dumps, there are 100% chances to get certified on the first attempt with high grades.

  5. You know therefore significantly when it comes to this subject, made me in my view consider it from numerous varied angles. Its like men and women are not involved unless it is one thing to do with Girl gaga! Your own stuffs excellent. All the time maintain it up! 토토사이트

  6. HP certifications are career-oriented credentials and are in great demand in every part of the world. They are sure to give you an instant career boost up, strengthen your present job and support you to find employment in medium and large enterprises. HP braindumps materializes these possibilities by providing you with the authentic, relevant and easy to learn content and pass HP certification exams without any chance of failure.

  7. hiking watches should be selected carefully. Prime features of hiking watches are:
    1: long battery backup
    2: robust material
    3: light and comfortable
    4: Triple ABC sensor
    more for hiking watch buying guide

  8. غبغب
    گاهی اوقات غبغب به دلیل اضافه وزن در ناحیه زیر چانه شکل می گیرد. اما ممکن است به دلیل افزایش سن و از دست رفتن خاصیت ارتجاعی پوست ناحیه زیر چانه حالت شل شدگی پیدا کند و آویزان شود.

  9. Dumps4Expert offers real exam dumps with actual exam dumps questions that will help you to prepare according to the real certification exams. You can now prepare for certification exams within few days with the latest questions and answers

    Our exam dumps are also verified by the IT certified experts from fields and offer a 100% success guarantee with a full money-back guarantee in case of failure

    https://www.dumps4expert.com/

  10. Oh, saya kira ini tentang khamr atau wine. Ternyata ini Khmer etnis ya? Btw, hikmatunnajiyah.ponpes.id menyajikan beberapa kajian islami, anekdot yang sarat akan makna, biografi sufi serta beberapa tips terkait kecantikan dan kesehatan termasuk tentang penyakit maag dangejala maag

  11. هایفو تراپی
    شاید اسم هایفوتراپی امروزه زیاد به گوشتان خورده باشد در واقع هایفوتراپی جدیدترین تکنولوژی جوانسازی صورت و
    گردن است که البته بدون جراحی صورت می گیرد، در روش هایفوتراپی شما تنها با یک جلسه یک ساعته به صورت کاملاً راحت و بدون درد و عارضه می توانید جوانسازی پوست خود را انجام دهید.

  12. اکستنشن مژه
    با اکستنشن مژه می توان مژه ها را پرتر و بلند تر نشان داد. البته باید به این نکته توجه کرد که کاشت مژه با اکستنشن آن متفاوت است.

  13. دکوراسیون داخلی
    به بیانی ساده تر می توانیم معماری داخلی را طراحی اجزا و فضای ثابت داخلی و طراحی داخلی و دکوراسیون داخلی را چگونگی چیدمان فضاها و اجزا متغیر آن تعریف کنیم.

  14. تست نوار عصب و عضله
    تست نوار عصب و عضله به بررسی فعالیت عصب و عضله می پردازد و برای بیمارانی که دچار مشکلات اسکلتی و عضلانی شده‌اند تجویز می‌شود. بدن انسان دارای یک مولد الکتریسیته است که هدف تولید الکتریسیته انتقال پیام ها بین اندام و مغز می باشد.

  15. ارتوپد
    متخصص ارتوپدی که به آن متخصص استخوان و مفاصل یا جراح استخوان و مفاصل یا ارتوپد هم میگویند سعی میکند تا با استفاده از روش های جراحی و غیر جراحی به تشخیص و درمان مشکلات سیستم حرکتی بدن اهتمام ورزد.

  16. عمل بینی
    ای هر فردی که تصمیم به جراحی زیبایی بینی دارد ؛ هزینه عمل بینی بسیار اهمیت دارد . افراد زیادی هستند که علاقه به جراحی بینی خود دارند اما به دلیل اینکه گمان میکنند هزینه جراحی بینی بسیار بالا است از این اقدام چشم پوشی کرده اند .

  17. کمپ ترک اعتیاد
    امروزه ارتباط و پیوستگی به مصرف و سوء استفاده از مواد به خصوص مواد مخدر و محرک ها از چیز هایی است که تازه پدید آمده است و پیچیده و شوم جامعه مدنی است.

  18. جراح بینی
    افرادی که برای انجام جراحی بینی پا پیش می گذارند با فکر زیباتر شدن و تغییر واضح در چهره شان زیر تیغ جراحی می روند واگر نتیجه عکس انتظارشان باشد به طبع حال خوبی نخواهند داشت.

  19. Really informative post. I personally thought the written post is well suited and trouble-free for me to go after provided guideline. visit this site to find out more 바둑이사이트

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *