Samlor Korko
| Samlor Korko | |
|---|---|
| Khmer name | សម្លកកូរ |
| Other names | Samlar kako; Samlor koko; Somlaw koko; Cambodian ratatouille |
| Dish types | Soup |
| Subjects | Food & Foodways; Literature & Storytelling; History & Remembrance |
| Related dishes | Kroeung |
Thick Cambodian vegetable and meat soup thickened with roasted ground rice and seasoned with prahok and green kroeung.
Samlor Korko (Khmer: សម្លកកូរ) is a thick Cambodian vegetable and meat soup thickened with roasted ground rice and seasoned with prahok and green kroeung. (Wikipedia: Samlar kako)
Cultural context
Samlar kako is a traditional Cambodian soup considered one of Cambodia's national dishes, built on green kroeung, prahok, roasted ground rice, catfish with pork or chicken, and assorted vegetables, fruits and herbs. (Wikipedia: Samlar kako) It appears in the Khmer folk legend "Young black lady's magic formula for a love charm", in which the dish is first called the soup of a hundred ingredients before King Guj Monoraj renames it the stirred soup because everyone kept stirring it. (Wikipedia: Samlar kako) Grantourismo reports that it is believed to be a very old dish dating to the Khmer Empire, is especially beloved by older Cambodians, and is usually eaten for lunch or dinner with steamed jasmine rice. (Grantourismo) For most older Cambodian cooks a version without catfish is not considered samlor korko at all. (Grantourismo)
Preparations and recipes
- 196 Flavors
- Cambodian stirred soup of meat and mixed vegetables seasoned with Khmer curry paste and prahok and thickened with ground roasted rice.
Regional and community variations
Middle- and upper-class households make a thick, almost stew-like soup, sometimes using stock simmered for hours, while poorer villages make a considerably lighter soup with water and stretch leftovers by thinning them. (Grantourismo) Seasonal local vegetables change the mix through the year, younger Cambodian chefs typically use only one protein, and Siem Reap restaurants may use ocean fish instead of river fish. (Grantourismo) Cornish hen, free-range chicken or quail may be used in place of the traditional catfish. (Wikipedia: Samlar kako)