Nom Banh Chok (Khmer Noodle Soup)

🛒 Ingredients

• Cooked Rice Vermicelli Noodles 150 g · 180 kcal
• White Fish Fillet (e.g., Catfish, Snakehead) 100 g · 100 kcal
• Light Coconut Milk 50 g · 80 kcal
• Fresh Lemongrass 10 g · 10 kcal
• Fresh Galangal 5 g · 5 kcal
• Fresh Turmeric Root 5 g · 5 kcal
• Kaffir Lime Zest 2 g · 2 kcal
• Garlic Cloves 10 g · 15 kcal
• Shallots 15 g · 10 kcal
• Dried Red Chilies 5 g · 15 kcal
• Prohok (Fermented Fish Paste) 5 g · 7 kcal
• Fish Sauce 10 g · 7 kcal
• Palm Sugar 5 g · 20 kcal
• Water or Fish Broth 103 g · 0 kcal
• Fresh Cucumber 50 g · 8 kcal
• Fresh Bean Sprouts 50 g · 15 kcal
• Thinly Sliced Banana Blossom 30 g · 10 kcal
• Fresh Mint Leaves 5 g · 2 kcal
• Fresh Basil Leaves 5 g · 2 kcal
• Chopped Long Beans 10 g · 5 kcal

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. First, prepare the Kroeung (Cambodian curry paste): finely chop or pound the lemongrass, galangal, fresh turmeric, kaffir lime zest, garlic, shallots, and rehydrated dried red chilies until a smooth paste forms.
2. In a pot, boil the white fish fillet in water or fish broth until cooked through and tender. Remove the fish, let it cool slightly, then flake the flesh, discarding bones and skin; reserve the cooking broth.
3. In a clean pot or wok, sauté the Kroeung paste over medium heat until fragrant, then add the flaked fish and stir well. Pour in the coconut milk, reserved fish broth, prohok, fish sauce, and palm sugar.
4. Bring the curry to a gentle simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
5. While the curry simmers, prepare the fresh accompaniments: julienne the cucumber, wash the bean sprouts, thinly slice the banana blossom and long beans, and pick fresh mint and basil leaves.
6. To serve, place a generous portion of cooked rice vermicelli noodles into a deep bowl. Ladle the hot fish curry over the noodles, ensuring plenty of flaky fish is included.
7. Finally, generously garnish each bowl with the fresh cucumber, bean sprouts, banana blossom, long beans, mint, and basil leaves. Serve immediately and enjoy the authentic flavors of Nom Banh Chok.