Num Banh chok (Khmer rice noodle)

Through this article I would to introduction one Khmer famous cuisine call “Num Banh chok”.

Num Banh chok is a name of Khmer rice noodle that made from fermented rice by using a heavy stone mill. It is one among famous traditional Khmer cuisine in Cambodia. Usually, Cambodian people eat it in the morning or late evening. Sometime it was use in special occasion like engagement, festival or ceremony in the village. There are three part important for this food that can’t be separated from each other otherwise we can’t get a delicious taste. They are fresh rice noodle or we can call in simple “Num Banh Chok”, soap and salad or “Anlok”. Normally, fresh rice noodle made from different kind of rice refer to the technique of producer at each place. For soap we can use three types depend on consumer favorite. The first type of rice noodle soap we call “Samlor Khmer” that made from flesh fish, mixed green ingredient paste or we can call “Kreoung” and vegetable. Other type is curry that made from pork meat or bone or chicken, mixed red ingredient paste and vegetable (sweet potato). “Nam Ya” also famous with rice noodle too. It made mixed red ingredient paste and flesh fish. The third type of soap is made from sweet dried shrimp, coconut cream, fish sauce and peanuts. This type is very famous in Kampot province. The last part that make this food ia very famous and healthy is salad. Cambodian uses many kinds of vegetables like cucumber, banana blossom, and water lily stems and fresh herbs, such as basil and mint as salad for this food.

There are a few histories about this food in Khmer history showed in general study program like Thun Chey story. In this story also describe about how he promoted Khmer rice noodle in China and earn his living at that time. Even the royal also have their own version call “Num Banh Chok Samlor Makot” or “rice noodle with crown sauce”. Some magazine also describe about foreigner statement of their impression on this cuisine during their tour in Cambodia too. All of this information are the evidences of the well-known of Khmer rice noodle in Cambodia.

Finally, Num Banh Chok is one among food that should be trying if you come to visit Cambodia. We can find it every province. Especially in Phnom Penh, we can find it in some good restaurant that serve with many kind of soap. If we want street food style we can also experience by finding a lady carry bamboo basket selling this food with Samlor Nam Ya along the street.

Appendix

Khmer rice noodle