Joanna James
Getting popular by the day, street food is tasty & authentic, costs relatively less, is cooked fresh, you can eat it on the move, and you will also be supporting upcoming small-time entrepreneurs. So, while you enjoy time in Laos, savour some of their best street food.
A popular dish in Laos, 'larb' is made of minced meat using beef, chicken, pork or duck flesh either raw or cooked. Whichever type of minced meat is used, the preparation makes it special with lemon juice, onions, chillies, lemongrass, garlic, mint, fish sauce and ground rice. The fusion of flavours is something worth tasting along with Laos main staple of sticky rice. Try this out at the street food alley near your hotel Luang Prabang. If you prefer cooked meat request the same when ordering, this is an ideal meal to fill you up.
You get drawn to the awesome smell of smoky meat of 'ping gai' as the Lao grilled chicken is called. Great as a meal with a full chicken or half chicken or as a snack on the go in bite-sized pieces on bamboo skewers, this is a succulent food enjoyed by many like guests from Avani+ Luang Prabang. The secret is not only the marinade of fish and oyster sauces, lemongrass, lime and palm sugar it is also the slow grilling process over open coals adding a smoky aroma.
Eaten by itself or as an accompaniment to a meal with sticky rice, this colourful dish is made of shredded green papaya, ripe tomatoes, tangy lime and chilli which are gently pounded using the traditional pestle and mortar to extract the flavours and infuse them together. A dash of the pungent Lao fish sauce is added thereafter giving it a tantalising aroma complemented with a tangy and salty taste compelling you to try it out.
Reminiscent of former French influence in Laos, 'khao jee pate', the crusty French baguette sandwich in Lao is stuffed full with your choice of filling. Sliced lengthwise and lightly toasted, one of the favourite fillings comprise of pickled vegetables, crispy salad leaves, sour pork meat and fresh herbs topped with pork liver pate, creamy mayonnaise and spicy chilli sauce, thus making it a powerhouse of energy and mostly enjoyed as a breakfast staple. This will keep you going for many hours.
A famous dessert in Laos, 'Ka nom kok', or coconut pancakes are light spheres made of healthy rice flour and creamy sweetened coconut milk with a dash of salt. Cooked on a cast-iron skillet having half-moon indents to a lovely crisp golden brown on the outside and silky moist softness inside, the beauty of this dessert is in the unique presentation using boxes made out of banana leaves making the hot pancakes nestle against the banana leaf to become just warm enough to enjoy it. As it is light several can be consumed with ease. Most favour this sweet version whilst some locals favour a spicy version with chopped onions added.
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A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
