Chances are you have not encountered many Laos dishes up till now, so be ready for a life-changing culinary experience under the expert leadership of your Laos tour guide. The national dish ‘Laap’ gives a hint of what you can expect, favouring spices, fresh salad and minced meat with a hint of lime. Cuisine here is light, jam-packed with flavour and made with the freshest of ingredients just waiting for you to dive in. Get to know Laos cuisine with our handy guide!
National Dish:
Laap spicy minced meat salad (with herbs, spices, lime juice and chilli)
Staples:
Khào niaw sticky rice in tip khao baskets
Glutinous rice
Bamboo shoots, Khao jii pat-te noodles
French baguettes with pâté
Soups:
Khao Poon soup, bamboo soup
Mains:
Tam màk hung spicy papaya salad (with crab)
Pa daek fermented fish sauce
Pîng kai grilled chicken
Water Buffalo, Mouse Deer, Rats
Mok Pa fish in banana leaf
Sides:
Yáw spring rolls
Nâm wãn coconut milk, lemongrass
Dessert:
Khào niaw màk muang (mango, sticky rice and coconut milk),
Fruits: lychee, longan, rambutan, jackfruit
Drink:
Bolaven Plateau coffee – Sinouk Coffee and Lao Mountain Coffee
Nâm oi sugar-cane juice
Beer:
Beerlao (with ice)
Spirits:
Lao-lao Rice spirit
Courtney Gahan is a serial expat, traveller and freelance writer who has bartered with Moroccan marketeers, seen the sun rise at Angkor Wat and elbowed her way through crowds on NYE in NYC
