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Enjoy Dishes Made from Rice,the Staple Food of ASEAN
By_‌ Yang Hyang-ja, Food Researcher, Ph. D. in Dining Space Design

There is a Vietnamese proverb that says, “You need to eat something to discuss the Way.” In other words, there must be some material basis to discuss philosophy. During autumn, the harvest season, Koreans eat rice and grain-based foods such as ogokbap and byeolmibap. Which rice dishes do ASEAN member states eat?

Nasi goreng, one of the major dishes in Indonesia and Malaysia, is a portmanteau of “nasi,”which means rice, and “goreng,”which means to fry. When combined, it creates a new word, “fried rice.” Nasi goreng is often paired with sauces such as sambal, kecap manis, and terasi. Supplementary ingredients such as chicken, beef, and shrimp are added, but pork is usually excluded in accordance with the tenets of Islam, a religion common in the region.

Cambodia’s signature dish, bai sach chrouk, is a rice bowl with pork grilled on charcoal. It became one of the most popular street foods in Cambodia thanks to its affordable price.

Thailand’s signature dish is khao pad sapparod, a kind of fried rice that uses an emptied pineapple as a container. It combines pineapple, shrimp, and curry flavors and is seasoned with a Thai fish sauce called nam pla.

Cơm tay cầm in Viet Nam is fried rice served in a clay pot, which looks similar to Korea’s ttukbaegi yeongyangbap. It contains a whole variety of ingredients such as beef, chicken, pork, sausage, shrimp, and vegetables and is also characterized by the use of herbs such as lemongrass and cilantro.

Myanmar’s rice ball dish shan htamin chin was selected as one of the “10 Foods to Try in Myanmar” by CNN in 2017. It is made by sautéing fish with garlic and ginger, mixing it with tomato, turmeric, fried garlic and onion, boiled potatoes, and rice, and rolling them into a ball. Top it off with peanuts, cilantro, and lime for a delicious meal.