Best Cambodian Desserts You Cannot Miss
Visiting a place is not all about paying a visit to the renowned monuments and places of the region. It is also about knowing the history, traditions, culture, heritage, people, and the food of the region. If you are paying a visit to Cambodia, there is a lot to discover about the place apart from its world-famous sightseeing spots and relics.Cambodia is located in the subtropical belt and fosters a rich flora that makes its vegetation dense and diverse. Much like the other regions lying along the tropics, Cambodia is also a paradise of fruits. Most of the fruits that grow here are sweet in taste and are juicy. Therefore, the desserts offered by Cambodia are also varied in number, taste, and flavour.
You can explore a fresh horizon of tropical fruits through the mouth-watering desserts that are common and authentic to Cambodian cuisine. If you are a food enthusiast and wish to know the place by heart, trying the following Cambodian desserts is a must for you.
Fruit
Fruits Sold by the Roadsides in Cambodia
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Fruits are the best and by far the most varied options that Cambodian desserts offers, and every traveller willing to explore the place at its best must give in to the authentic tropical taste of the fruits grown here.
Quick facts
• Main ingredient: Ripe and unripe fruits of tropical origin• Where to find: Street corner food stalls and restaurants
Mung Bean Pudding
Pudding is one of the most popular choices when it comes to selecting Cambodian desserts. It is loved by kids, youngsters as well as older people. The semisolid appearance of this dish makes it look appealing and inviting. Another advantage that adds to its popularity quotient is its mellow sweetness that does not shock the buds with a spur of sweetness.Mung bean pudding is one of the most authentic choices amongst Cambodian desserts. It also comes with a physiological advantage. It is traditionally believed that Mung Bean Pudding keeps the body temperature under control, which is a must in tropical regions. When served with coconut sauce toppings, the dish looks irresistible to any food enthusiast.
Quick facts
• Main ingredient: Sticky rice, coconut milk, tapioca starch, split mung bean• Where to find: Street corner food stalls and restaurants
Pumpkin Custard
Being a tropical country, Cambodia produces a large number of pumpkins every year. It is a popular vegetable here and is widely used to make Cambodian desserts and other dishes. Though the word pumpkin custard appears a little odd to many who are not aware of its local popularity, in Cambodia, Pumpkin Custard is kept reserved to be served on special occasions.Traditionally, this dessert is prepared a day before it is meant to be served to lend the dish its unique taste and softness. It is refrigerated overnight and then served at the parties. You can also find some at the roadside food stalls to give a treat to your taste buds.
Quick facts
• Main ingredient: pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar, butter, whipped cream• Where to find: Street corner food stalls and restaurants
Mango and Sticky Rice
Who can deny the importance of Mango in the list of fruits available across the tropical regions? Cambodia also uses mango to make many of its local dishes and desserts. Mango and Sticky Rice is one of the most common and popular Cambodian desserts served across to satiate the taste buds of common people as well the travelers. It is traditionally served with coconut milk to enhance its taste, tenderness, and sweetness.
Quick facts
• Main ingredient: sticky rice, ripe mango, coconut milk• Where to find: Street corner food stalls and restaurants
Cha Houy Teuk
Cha houy teuk is a sugary jelly-like dessert prepared from agar-agar. Agar-agar is a variety of gelatine extracted from seaweeds. Available for serving in a range of bright and vibrant shades of pink, green, blue, etc., the jelly is sometimes flavoured with mung beans, sago, and coconut cream to make a variety of Cambodian desserts. Cha houy teuk is often served with one scoop of revitalizing shaved ice.
Quick facts
• Main ingredient: red beans, sago, jackfruit, coconut cream, sticky rice• Where to find: Street corner food stalls and restaurants
Khmer Layer Cake Made with Coconut Cream
It is considered a tradition to eat Num Chak Kacha during the Buddhist holidays. It is one of the most popular Cambodian desserts and is available in a variety of colours and styles. This tantalizing sweet and glutinous treat is prepared with rice flour, coconut cream, and palm sugar. It features a smooth texture resultant upon the steaming it goes through during the preparation.
Quick facts
• Main ingredient: rice flour, coconut milk, tapioca flour• Where to find: Street corner food stalls and restaurants
Rolled Banana Cake
Much like mangoes, the banana makes for a special place in the list of fruits available across the tropical regions. One of the best Cambodian desserts gets prepared with bananas. Num ansom chek is one of the popular-most choices in Cambodia. These banana cakes are offered to monks of pagodas during Pchum Ben holidays and Khmer New Year. These rice cakes receive a banana filling to enhance the sweetness of the item and are then wrapped in banana leaves to be steamed.
Quick facts
• Main ingredient: banana leaves, sticky rice, banana• Where to find: Street corner food stalls and restaurants
Sweets are always a popular choice in any country. Especially in countries where fruits are grown in plenty, varieties of sweet dishes are prepared using them which contribute to health and taste, both.
You can find mobile street shops selling almost every variety of the mentioned Cambodian desserts in front of schools, universities, offices, and other public places. People flock in great numbers to taste these local servings. To make your travel experience complete and varied, you must also give in to the taste of the local cuisine available across the streets of Cambodia.