Tamarind’s Cooking Class

“People who love to eat are always the best people.”
                                                                    - Julia Child -

Everyone can cook Lao food. Believe me. Even if you don’t know any herbs, Asian ingredients, how to cook steamed sticky rice, or have any knowledge about the food, Tamarind’s cooking class could introduce you to the real taste of Laos like I have experienced.  

I had started the day quite early. I still remembered how drowsy I was while walking across the classic bamboo bridge over the Khan River.  The brown steam runs sluggishly like usual in dry season. That day we needed to pay 50,000 kip each to across the bridge, although we tried to negotiate the fee. The kind uncle who collects money said they need to change the whole bamboo bridge every year because flooding in rainy season would take everything down the river. They need to pay for new bamboos, construction cost, and labors. So, rather than paying the fee, you are actually donating and helping the community to keep the bridge for everyone’s use. ^^

Can you guess what that is in my hands? It’s a pack of buffalo skin!!!

Eventually, I had ten people in my cooking class. Everyone will go to the morning market in suburban of Luang Prabang by tuk-tuk first. Then, our teacher will introduce us how to shop fresh ingredients and explain what are needed in Lao’s kitchen.

I loved to explore the market.

If you were there, you will smell many interesting odors.

Our cooking class takes place somewhere outside the city. It took about 30 minutes to ride the tuk-tuk. We had more fun with the bumpy road and just laughed to each other when everyone sprang from our seats at the same time. Right, it was such a fun rough ride. ^^

Love to be here. ^^

Very wonderful! All equipment and ingredients are ready for us to cook. Our teacher, Teacher Joy, made a very good presentation and very clear explanation how to cook Lao’s food step-by-step, very easy to follow really.

In middle of a tamarind garden, they plant so many types of vegetable. I felt very good to see these vegetable plots.

Jeow: an original Lao spicy dipping sauce

The first dish we were going to make was ‘Jeow’ or an original Lao spicy dipping sauce. The main ingredients are chilies, garlic, tomatoes, and an eggplant. Then, we grilled all those stuff by using charcoal stove. After that, you will hear a lot of pounding from our clay mortars. So…, how do you know you have done enough and finish your job well? Mmm… I would say you really need to taste it... Yummy? ^^


Do you feel the heat from this strong fire? ^^

The second dish was ‘Mok Pla’. This dish was so easy to make. Just put everything in our cleaned mortar and pound hard until all ingredients blended well.
---> Mix few pieces of fish
---> Put fish on a banana leaf and wrap tight
---> Steam, allow 20 minutes to cook well
 

lemon grass stuffed & Laap

The third dish was Tamarind’s specialty, which is lemon grass stuffed with chicken and herbs. I had a lot of fun making this dish. ^^
---> Cut lemon grass into strips
---> Stuff lemon grass with chicken and herbs

---> Fry

The fourth was Laap, a minced chicken salad with herbs. You can choose your choice of meat; chicken, beef, tofu, or even buffalo meat! @.@

The final dish was a dessert menu. We made glutinous rice contained with sugar and coconut milk. The toppings are white sesame and seasonal fruits like sapodilla, rambutan, mango, tamarind, and mangosteen.

Last, we all sat down together on the long table and enjoyed our wonderful self-made dishes. ^^ 

Bon appétit!