Introduction: Nhoam Trasak, commonly known as the Cambodian cucumber salad, is a delicious treat you can enjoy throughout the year. Originating from Cambodia, this salad is traditionally consumed family-style with rice and various other dishes. However, its hearty composition makes it a perfect standalone meal for lunch or dinner.
What Makes it Special: The distinctiveness of this salad lies in its rich ingredients. While cucumbers remain its primary component, the addition of fried bacon, smoked dried fish, and dried shrimp gives it a substantial feel. It’s akin to enjoying a salade Niçoise or Caesar salad during winter, especially when supplemented with ingredients like salmon fillet or fried chicken.
In Cambodia, there are countless versions of this cucumber salad. While some choose to serve it with barbecued fish or grilled meats as part of a shared family meal, others relish it as a filling one-bowl meal.
Preparation Tips:
- Dried Shrimp: Soak it briefly. Before combining it with the salad, ensure it’s thoroughly dried. For the best texture, pound it in a mortar and pestle.
- Dressing – Cambodian Teuk Trey: Prepare the dressing in advance, letting lime juice, fish sauce, birds-eye chilies, garlic cloves, salt, and sugar meld together. This infuses a more rounded taste. While the dressing’s key ingredient is fish sauce, sourcing Cambodian fish sauce outside the country might be challenging. Opt for a high-quality Vietnamese or Thai fish sauce instead.
- Smoked Dried Fish: For an authentic flavor, use trey cha-er. Remove the heads, fins, tails, and spines. Pound the remaining fish in a wooden mortar and pestle. Once pounded, discard the skin and any bones for safety. You’ll get a fluffy, slightly crunchy dried fish that’s great in the salad.
Concluding Thoughts: This salad encapsulates the essence of Cambodian cuisine. If you appreciate Cambodian dishes and want to support the documentation of more such recipes, consider backing the unique Cambodian cookbook project on Patreon.
For those who are new to it or introducing someone to Cambodian cooking, the cucumber salad is a delightful way to start. Adjust the seasonings and flavors to your liking and enjoy a piece of Cambodia on your plate.
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Dunston, L. 2023. Cambodian cucumber salad recipe for nhoam trasak. Grantourismo Travels. https://grantourismotravels.com/cambodian-cucumber-salad-recipe-nhoam-trasak/