Steamed curry facts for kids
Thai steamed fish curries (ho mok pla) in Chiang Mai, Thailand
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| Type | Curry |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Cambodia or Thailand |
| Region or state | Southeast Asia |
| Associated national cuisine | Cambodian, Lao and Thai |
| Main ingredients | Curry paste, coconut cream/coconut milk, eggs |
| Variations | Fish amok |
Steamed curry is a yummy dish from Southeast Asia. It's a type of curry that gets cooked by steam-cooking it, often inside banana leaves. In Laos, sometimes they even roast it over hot coals! This special curry is known by different names like amŏk in Cambodia, ho mok in Thailand, and mok in Laos.
The main part of steamed curry is a flavorful curry paste. This paste is sometimes mixed with coconut cream or coconut milk and eggs. People also add all sorts of other tasty things to the dish.
What's Inside Steamed Curry?
Steamed curry can be made with many different ingredients. Here are some popular choices:
- Fish: This is a very common type, called amŏk trei in Cambodia, ho mok pla in Thailand, and mok pa in Laos.
- Bamboo shoots: In Thailand, this is ho mok no mai, and in Laos, mok nor mai. Sometimes, it even has minced meat mixed in!
- Chicken: You can find amŏk săch moăn in Cambodia and ho mok kai in Thailand.
- Snails: In Cambodia, this version is called amŏk khyâng.
- Tofu: For a plant-based option, there's amŏk tauhu in Cambodia and ho mok tawhu in Thailand.
- Algae: In Laos, they make mok khai with a special type of Mekong weed.
A Taste of History
Curries made with coconut milk have been a part of Southeast Asian cooking for a long time. Experts believe that ideas for these dishes came from India many centuries ago.
Around the 1400s, after a big event called the Fall of Angkor, Khmer royal cooks brought these curry ideas to the Ayutthaya Kingdom in Thailand. Later, when armies moved between Thailand and Cambodia, these cooking styles were shared again.
Today, steamed curries are a very important part of the food culture in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. Each country has its own special way of making and enjoying them!
Images for kids
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Cambodian steamed fish curry (fish amok)
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Laotian steamed fish curry (mok pa)
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Thai steamed seafood curry (ho mok thale) served in a coconut
See also
In Spanish: Curry al vapor para niños
