Flower Noodle Soup

Introduction:

Have you ever eaten flowers? I've tried a lot of new food in Cambodia, and one of my favorites is a noodle soup with vegetables, herbs and sometimes even flowers in it. Keep reading to find out more about these special Cambodian noodles. 

What food did I try?:

After I tried Khmer (say K-mai) noodles for the first time, I fell in love. Now, I eat nom banh chok a couple times each week for breakfast or snack. It is one of my favorite foods in Cambodia!

How did I feel when I tried it?:

The first time I saw nom banh chok, I thought it was just a bowl of noodles and broth. Before I ate my first bite, my host mom acted out mixing the noodles, so I did as she said. I was so surprised at what was inside! There were purple pieces of water lily stems, green pieces of cucumbers, herbs, and long beans and tiny yellow flowers. After mixing, it was ready to eat, and my first bite made me feel warm and happy.  Not only did it look beautiful, but it tasted delicious, too.

How is the food prepared?:

There are three main steps to making khmer noodles, or nom banh chok. The first and most important step is making the noodles. The noodles are made from rice that is soaked and ground until smooth. The rice liquid then rests, to ferment and dry.

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