It is a good way to travel to a strange place, do as the Romans do, learn more about local culture and taste local food. Although Laos cuisine is unknown, it also has its own characteristics. Behind these cuisines, there is the creativity of Laos in pursuing food.
During my trip to Laos, I ate several Lao meals and found that the diet in Laos was greatly influenced by France, Thailand and southern China. The staple food in Laos is mainly glutinous rice. Locals usually put glutinous rice in small bamboo baskets, knead it into small balls, and grab it when eating. At the same time, it is served with all kinds of lettuce, rice noodles and fish barbecue. Commonly used seasonings are fish sauce, lemon juice and ketchup.
Laos love barbecue very much, and barbecue stalls can be seen in front of every restaurant and in the streets. Pork, chicken, fish, vegetables ... anything you can think of can be used for barbecue as long as you don't object. The traditional method of grilled fish is very interesting. People are used to stuffing a special kind of grass into the stomach of fish, thinking that it has medicinal and health care value. Always roast the fish until golden on both sides. When you eat it, the smell of vanilla will fill your mouth, and the fish will be soft and crisp.
Laos also has zongzi-like food, which has been transformed locally and is called "Coton". This kind of "old zongzi" made of rice or glutinous rice is wrapped in banana leaves and cooked. The fillings are complicated, including pickled pork, chicken or fish and shrimp, as well as mushrooms and sugar. It's delicious and has the characteristic flavor of Southeast Asia.
Lapp is a special dish unique to Laos. Its main ingredient is fresh chicken, duck or fish, which can be eaten raw, semi-cooked or fully cooked. Rice noodles are cooked with water and seasoned with salt and fish sauce. Rice flour is divided into vegetarian rice flour and meat rice flour. Vegetarian rice noodles are eaten raw with lettuce and bean sprouts. Meat rice noodles will be mixed with a plate of lettuce and bean sprouts.
Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, and its marine resources are very scarce. Friends who like seafood will be slightly disappointed here. However, friends who love hot pot can get surprises. The hot pot in Laos is also quite distinctive. You can eat it in one pot, barbecue at the top and stir-fry at the bottom.
When I was in Laos, I also tasted chocolate flying cakes sold by local trolleys. This kind of "crepe" originated in colonial France has become a popular sweetheart of street people. I witnessed the whole process of making chocolate flying cakes: the stall owner spread the flour into cakes, cut bananas into pieces, wrapped them in cakes, fried them, and sprinkled chocolate sauce and chocolate powder. It tastes sweet and delicious.
When it comes to Laos' diet, there is another point that cannot be ignored. It occupies a pivotal position on the dining table in Laos. That is "beer-Lao"-Lao beer.