Lao Cuisine - Ingredients

Ingredients

• Galangal: (Lao: ຂ່າ, Isan: ข่า, ), typically used in soups, mixed dishes and marinades
• Kaffir lime: (Lao: ໝາກຂີ້ຫູດ, Isan: มะกรูด maak-khii-huut), typically used in soups and stews
• Lemon grass: (Lao: ຫົວສິງໄຄ, hua sing-khai), used in soups, stews and marinades
• Shallots
• Lao eggplant: (Lao: ໝາກເຂືອ ), small and round Kermit eggplant, used in stews or eaten raw
• Papaya (green): (Lao: ໝາກຫຸ່ງ, Isan: มักหุ่ง, ), shredded and used in spicy papaya salad.
• Tamarind: (Lao: ໃບໝາກຂາມ, Isan: ใบหมากขาม, ), sour fruit used in soups or as a snack.
• Tamarind leaf: (Lao: ຫມາກຂາມ used in soups
• Cha-om (acacia): used in soups, curries, omelettes, and stir-fries
• Coriander (cilantro): (Lao: ຜັກຫອມປ້ອມ, Isan: ผักซี, ), both leaves and seeds added to dips, marinades, and a wide variety of dishes.
• Chile pepper: (Lao: ໝາກເຜັດ, Isan: พริก, ), seven popular types
• Thai basil: eaten raw with pho
• Mint: Lao: ໃບຫອມລາບ, Isan: ใบสะระแหน่, ), used in goy/laap, and eaten raw
• Laotia, used in stews and eaten raw
• Lemon basil: (Lao: ຜັກອີ່ຕູ່) Isan: แมงลัก used in soups and stews
• Garlic: (Lao: ກະທຽມ, Isan: กระเทียม, )
• Ginger root: (Lao: ຂີງ, Isan: ขิง, )
• Banana flower: (Lao: ຫມາກປີ, Isan: หมากปี, ), a raw accompaniment to noodle soup or cooked in others.
• Ginger flower
• Bamboo shoots: (Lao: ໜໍ່ໄມ່, Isan: หน่อไม้, ), used in stews or boiled as a side dish
• Rattan shoots: typically used in stews (bitter)
• Mushrooms: (Lao: ເຫັດ, Isan: เห็ด, ), used in soups and stir-fries.
• Yanang leaf: (Lao: ໃບຢານາງ, Isan: ใบย่านาง, ), used as a green colouring agent and as a seasoning or thickener for soups and stews.
• Turkey berry: (Lao: ໝາກແຄ້ງ, Isan: หมากแค้ง, ), Solanum torvum, typically used in stews and curries.
• Yard long beans: (Lao: ໝາກຖົ່ວ, Isan: หมากถั่ว, IPA: maːk tʰua), eaten raw, in stews, and can be made into a spicy bean salad (tam mak thoua).
• Phak kadao: (Lao: ຜັກກະເດົາ, Isan: ผักกะเดา, ), Azadirachta indica or neem, a bitter vegetable often eaten raw.
• Phak lin may: a bitter green, eaten raw
• Wild betel leaves: (Lao: ຜັກອີ່ເລີດ, Isan: ผักอีเลิด, ), Piper sarmentosum, a green, eaten raw
• Scarlet wisteria: (Lao: ດອກແຄ, Isan: ดอกแค, ) Sesbania grandiflora, blossom eaten as vegetable in soups and curries.
• Phak bong: (Lao: ຜັກບົ້ງ, Isan: ผักบุ้ง, ), Ipomoea aquatica, stir-fried, steamed, or eaten as raw vegetable accompaniment.
• Nam pa: clear fish sauce (Lao: ນ້ຳປາ, Isan: น้ำปลา, ), used as a general condiment.
• Padaek: (Lao: ປາແດກ, Isan: ปลาแดก, ), Lao-style fish paste.
• "Three-layer pork": pork belly (Lao: ຊີ້ນໝູສາມຊັ້ນ)
• Dried water buffalo skin: (Lao: ໜັງເຄັມ) used in jaew bong and stews
• Sa khan: stem of Piper ribesioides, used in stews
• Kaipen: (Lao: ໄຄແຜ່ນ, Isan: ไกแผ่น, ), dried sheets of edible Mekong River algae, similar to nori.
• Lime: (Lao: ໝາກນາວ, Isan: หมากนาว, ), common ingredient to many dishes.
• Tomato: (Lao: ໝາກເລັ່ນ, Isan: หมากเล่น, ), eaten as a garnish item or in papaya salad.
• Cucumber: (Lao: ໝາກແຕງ, Isan: หมากแตง, ), eaten as a garnish or as a substitute for green papaya in salad.