Lard na facts for kids

Lard na (also spelled lad na, lard nar, or lard nah) is a yummy noodle dish from Laos. It's a Lao-Chinese meal that became super popular as a street food. Imagine wide, flat noodles covered in a thick, tasty sauce, almost like a gravy!

What is Lard Na?

Lard na is a special kind of stir-fried noodle dish. It's known for its thick, savory gravy that covers all the ingredients. This gravy makes the dish extra delicious and unique. It's a comforting meal often enjoyed by many people in Laos.

Main Ingredients

The main part of Lard na is made with Shahe fen, which are wide, flat rice noodles. These noodles are stir-fried to get them just right. You can choose your favorite protein to go with the noodles. This could be chicken, beef, pork, or even tofu for a plant-based option.

The dish also includes fresh vegetables. The most common one is Chinese kailan, which is a leafy green vegetable. Sometimes, straw mushrooms are added too. If kailan isn't available, broccoli is often used instead.

How It's Made

To make Lard na, the wide rice noodles are quickly stir-fried. Then, the chosen meat or tofu is cooked with the vegetables. The special gravy is made separately and then poured over everything.

The gravy gets its amazing flavor from different seasonings. These often include sweet soy sauce, fish sauce (which is called "nam pa" in Laos), a little sugar, fresh garlic, and black pepper. All these ingredients come together to create a rich and savory taste.

Popularity as Street Food

Lard na became very popular thanks to Chinese people living in Laos. They introduced this delicious noodle dish, and it quickly became a favorite street food. Street food is ready-to-eat food sold by vendors in public places. It's a quick and easy way for people to grab a tasty meal while they are out and about.