They Eat It All In Laos

By: Nicole Long- Laos Director

There are so many exotic and weird foods in Laos. I could seriously go on and on for days on the foods or dishes you can find throughout this country. Lao people eat anything and everything- Everything.  If it walks, crawls, slithers, swims, flies or grows (is catchable and isn’t poisonous) it is eaten. This is one of the main reasons why you won’t see much wildlife outside of protected national parks and even then it can be difficult.

The Lao have not really been educated on the importance of protecting wildlife and certain species, especially in the countryside. Most of the Lao people are still very much hunters and gatherers. If it is edible then it will be hunted and every part of the carcass will be used or consumed.  They are not wasteful when it comes to food!

I personally am very adventurous when it comes to trying out different local food and drink. Over the last three years I have tried things like python soup, raw pig blood salad, BBQ sparrow (burnt to a crisp), Komodo dragon stew, buffalo skin, and much more.  Below are a few more I have tried, some of which I actually really LOVE.

Padek

Padek is fermented fish.  It is used in a lot of Lao food. Sometimes it is used just to add a little flavor to soup and sometimes it is the predominate ingredient to a dish. Once you have tasted and smelled Padek you will always be able to identify it. Pungent doesn’t even begin to give it justice. As I said before, it is fermented fish. I think you can use your imagination!

Padek is enjoyed by all in Laos. It is made by taking whole fish from the river and mixing them with salt, garlic, rice husks and water.  After mixing you place the ingredients in a jar. In the countryside this would likely be a clay jar with banana leaves tightly tied by vine around the tops. In the city it is now held in plastic and glass jars and bottles. You then leave the jar in the kitchen area for about 2 weeks. After 2 weeks it is then edible and sold at the markets. The Padek is good for about one year (as long as it is enclosed).

Did I mention I love this stuff? I know you are thinking that I am crazy, most people do when I tell them that it is my favorite thing in Laos.  Lao are amazed when I tell them how much I love it. Mostly because they say they have never seen a foreigner eat it. If you want to impress tell someone, Koy mak Padek! Seap lai! (I like Padek!  Very delicious!)

Lao Lao with Nok Kwuak (Lao bird, no translation)

Lao Lao is homemade rice whiskey or rice wine- basically it is moonshine. Lao Lao is another lovely, pungent fermented delight.  When you head into a Lao Lao Whiskey village, you know it. You can’t escape the smell. And if you think the smell is harsh, wait until you taste it!  It is like gasoline.  It will deliver quite a punch and it only takes a few shots to not be able to walk straight.

Usually you will see Lao Lao consumed by the locals out of water bottles. Sometimes you will come across interesting sights like the one below.

Lao Lao can sometimes be found at local restaurants or bought from the night market with an animal, reptile or, in this case, a bird inside. Lao believe that some of these provide extra vitality or increase your strength or fertility.  I was told that this particular bird possessed the ability to give you energy and heal aliments. I think you have to believe this in order to consume it. Why else would you?  And anyone will feel better after a couple shots.

And yes, I did drink this.

Bamboo Worms

I know that once you write the word worm, people automatically think slimy and gooey. Well, these worms happen to be crunchy and crispy (when fried). You can’t find them everywhere. In Laos you don’t see street vendors selling insects as snacks. They are found only in particular local spots and not all the time. That’s because someone has to go out and find them.

Bamboo worms are found in young bamboo stalks. You have to trek out into the forest to find them. You know that the bamboo is infested with theses worms if the stalk is brown at the top and not the normal green.  You then cut the bamboo in half and collect the worms into a bag or basket. Then take them home to cook!

According to Lao they are a great source of protein and are the tastiest when coupled with an ice-cold Beerlao. It’s their equivalent to bar food, but much healthier!  The worms are usually served fried with oil, lime leaves and chili.

I recently went to the Laos province of Xayaboury where I was able to sample the fried bamboo worms.  They were right- they are most delicious with an ice cold Beerlao.