(Khmer) Kampot Noodles

Khmer Noodles

Did you know that noodles originated in Cambodia? Well, according to the Khmer legend of Dhmen Jay, noodles were introduced to China around the start of the Common Era. Along with noodles, Dhmen Jay (also spelled Thoun Chey) introduced kites to China as well. But I want to talk about Khmer noodles today. If you followed that link about and read the article, you’d know that num banh chok is a fermented rice noodles. Making num banh chok is a very laboring work, as you can tell from that article.

I’m not certain of the age and provenance of num banh chok, but my third grade teacher’s family claimed to have been making Khmer noodles for more than a thousand years. And there are many villages all over Cambodia that have claimed the same. I’ve heard that there are a few areas in Kampong Thom and Kratié provinces that have been making num banh chok for more than two millennia.

Whatever the claim, Khmers love num banh chok, which is also the name of the dishes made with these noodles. Today, I am introducing you to one of the dishes. Num banh chok kampot is a dish of noodles served with crushed dried shrimp tossed with pineapple fish-sauce dressing and topped with roasted peanuts and coconut cream. 

Kampot is a coastal province, which explains the use of dried shrimp. Kampot fish sauce is considered to be the best in the nation. The same goes for agricultural products grown in the province, such as peppers, durians, rambutans and pineapples.

Without further ado:

Num Banh Chok Kampot

1 lb. fresh num banh chok, or 1-8 oz package of rice vermicelli

1 ½ cups dried shrimp

½ cup coconut cream

½ cup roasted peanuts, roughly crushed

½ small head of lettuce, torn to bite-sized pieces

2 cucumbers, julienne  

2 cups bean sprouts, trimmed

A handful of herbs (mints, basils, etc.)

A handful of young mango leaves (optional)

Pineapple Fish-Sauce Dressing

¼ ripe pineapple, julienne

½ cup fish sauce

½ cup lemon juice

½ cup sugar

5 garlic cloves

1 bird's eye chili (optional)

Preparing the dressing: pound the garlic and chili in a mortar. Spoon out and place the garlic/chili mixture in a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients, mix well. Taste and adjust accordingly. You can either add in the pineapple at this time or you can wait until you assemble the dish.

If using dried rice vermicelli, prepare it according to the direction on the package.

Soak the shrimp in warm water for 20 minutes. Rinse them several times and drain. Pound the shrimp in a mortar with pestle until they become crumbly. Conversely, you can use a food processor.

Dried Shrimp

To assemble the dish: in a bowl, add all the trimmings, noodles, some pineapple slices, and shrimp. Add some fish-sauce dressing and coconut cream. And top everything with crushed peanuts. Enjoy!

Kampot Noodles

Eclipses

There was a total lunar eclipse last night. If you were outside anywhere in the

Northern Hemisphere, you could have seen it. In Khmer language, lunar eclipse

is called rahu chab chan, meaning Rahu catches/swallows the Moon. So who

is Rahu? Well, Rahu is a demon.  And his story and the origin of eclipse dated

all the way back to samudra manthana, the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, in a

time when demons were on the ascension in the universe.

It all started with the suggestion of Lord Vishnu, that gods and demons come

together to churn the Cosmic Ocean in order to obtain amrita, the elixir of

immortality. The churning was an elaborate process. Mount Mandara was used

as a churning rod and the serpent Vasuki (Lord Shiva’s naga) offered himself

as a churning rope. Herbs of every kind were tossed into the Ocean. And out

of the Ocean, many treasures arose, including the Goddess Lakshmi,

shankha (Vishnu’s conch), the apsaras (celestial dancers), and at the end, the

celestial physician Dhanvantari emerged holding the pot containing the elixir.

The demons snagged the pot and battle broke out between the two sides.

Vishnu, in the form of the enchantress Mohini, his only female avatar, beguiled

the demons into handing over the pot to her. She then distributed the elixir to

the gods. One demon, Svarbhanu, who kept his sight on the pot the entire time,

disguised himself as a god in order to take a sip of the elixir. Surya (the Sun)

and Chandra (the Moon) noticed and informed Vishnu, who proceeded to

behead Svarbhanu instantly. But Svarbhanu already took a sip of the elixir

and as a result, his head became immortal and known as Rahu. But since

he was beheaded before the elixir could pass down his throat, his body died

and became known as Ketu.

Unsurprisingly, Rahu holds a grudge against the Sun and the Moon. He chases

them to exact his revenge and once in awhile he catches up to either one. And

since Rahu is just a head, when he catches up to either the Sun or the Moon,

he tries to swallow either one. Sometimes, Rahu manages to swallow the Sun

or the Moon entirely. But since he has no body, eventually the Sun or the

Moon comes back out again.

This, dear readers, is how eclipses happen.

A Universal Truth

Nothing is as difficult as doing a task set by one’s own wife.

Khmer Proverb

A Nihilist

Don’t die like a snake; don’t live like a frog.

  Khmer Proverb

"O Phnom Penh"

O, Phnom Penh!

During the three years we were apart,

I missed you and my heart suffered each and every day,

Because the enemy cut off the affection between you and me.

When I was forced to leave you,

Anger burnt in my heart

And compelled me to redress the sufferings you bore,

To show my faithfulness to you.

Phnom Penh, our beloved city,

In spite of the three years of hardship,

You managed to preserve our history

And represent the soul of Cambodia.

You prevented the disappearance of Cambodia,

Land of the Khmer race.

The soul of the Khmer nation lives on

And stays strong under the shade of Angkor.

O, Phnom Penh, now we are reunited

And you are relieved from your sadness and your sorrow.

O, Phnom Penh, our nation’s heart and soul.

Music by Bunnaray Morm

Lyric by Chenda Keo

Original vocal by Sokha Morm

Do Bring Something

When visiting someone, do not show up empty-handed.

My Grandmother

Cambodia 1904?-May 1975