Ahhhh Cambodia

Once upon a time, when FGS was still footloose and fancy free, she used to live in this tiny little country called Cambodia. It was a total fluke that she ended up there -- and it turned out to be one of those live changing experiences in ways that she is still discovering. To write it all down on paper, or blog, is still something she plans on doing, but for now her little story of love and disaster will remain in her head where it belongs...

Yesterday one of my former students had her 20th birthday. Her mum is from Cambodia and ever since I met her, she's been spoiling me rotten with yummy Cambodian food. I cook some Khmer dishes, but only every now and again when I'm really craving it. Those tastes have a way of magically bringing me back to the beach, to the tiny little town I used to live in, to nights spent under palm trees, days spent in hammocks or on the dive boat. What a life I lived! It was idyllic and a nightmare all at the same time. But that is neither here nor there. Yesterday in between the screeching of overly loud Khmer karaoke and bottles of Hennessey being passed around, I was transported back to my Cambodian home. I was the only English speaker in the bunch and basically spent the entire time I was there back in that solitude I used to know so well -- I'd forgotten what it was like to not understand anyone around me! It is so isolating, yet so thrilling to me. Ahhhh....Cambodia.

Making Green Papaya Salad

One of my favorite dishes in Khmer cuisine is green papaya salad -- though I prefer it a bit sweeter than they usually make it, more like the Thai version. Khmer food took a big hit during the reign of the Khmer Rouge and many of the traditional dishes disappeared during this time. Much of the food is now heavily influenced by the Thai and Vietnamese. Still, Khmer food is generally tasty (provided you don't know what you are eating!). Fish Amok is my other favorite dish -- a coconut and green or red curry and fish souffle of sorts. Very tasty.

Green Papaya Salad

• 1 green papaya, peeled and cut into long thin strips or grated (ask at your Asian grocer)
  
• 1/2 cup peanuts (or plain roasted)
  
• 1 to 2 tomatoes, cut into long thin strips
• 1 Thai chili, minced (seeds removed if you prefer a milder salad)
• 4 cloves of garlic
  
• 2 limes (royaled -- skin cut off)
  
• 1/2 tsp. shrimp paste
  
• palm sugar to taste ( I like my salad a bit sweeter than most Khmers do)
  
• 1 Tbsp. fish sauce (if vegetarian, use vegetarian fish sauce)
• 2 Tbsp. lime juice
• MSG to taste (okay I know it's bad for you -- but, salt doesn't work as well -- with the fish sauce you could just omit this altogether)
• green beans are another ingredient that is sometimes added

This salad is then put into an oversize mortar and pestle and pounded until all the ingredients are well mixed. You could possible put this into a large heavy duty ziploc bag and pound with a rolling pin.

Enjoy!

Green papaya salad is very refreshing and tasty. You could serve it with shrimp or as the Khmer's do with beef satay.

And that is all I got for today folks! I'm being a slug today and cleaning and watching the Super Bowl. I'm going to make my amazing French Onion soup later. Yum. I'm still sore after yesterday's spinning and yoga extravaganza so I don't think I'll be working out today!

S'bay te,
FGS