5 Mess-Free Khmer Recipes Perfect for Your Lunchbox
Skip the soggy sandwiches, leaky soup containers, and basic salads. Try a Khmer version of a to-go lunch for yourself, your kids, or your husband that guarantees incredible flavor. You will actually be waiting for your lunch break and your meals are not going to be boring, sad, depressing, or dry anymore!
The Lunchbox Pantry Staples
You don't need a massive grocery run to make these five distinct meals! Some ingredients are incredibly versatile. By keeping these key essentials in your kitchen, you can cook all of these recipes and many more; without constantly running to the store.
Lotus Root Salad
Crunchy, refreshing, and incredibly vibrant. Unlike leafy greens that wilt quickly, lotus root holds its firm crunch beautifully in a lunchbox, making this a perfect healthy option for the office.
Key Ingredients
- Sliced lotus root
- Minced pork and/or boiled shrimp
- Crushed peanuts
- Fresh herbs (mint, basil)
- Lime, fish sauce, and sugar (for dressing)
How to make it
Blanch the lotus root briefly and let it cool. Cook your meats. Mix your dressing until balanced, then toss everything together with fresh herbs and top with a generous handful of crushed peanuts.
Garlic Butter Lobster
Want to pack a luxurious lunch to impress your spouse? This rich, buttery, garlic-infused lobster (or crayfish) feels incredibly decadent but takes very little time to prepare. Since it's a dry fry, there's zero risk of spilling.
Key Ingredients
- Lobster, crayfish, or large prawns
- Plenty of minced garlic
- Butter
- Black pepper and a dash of soy sauce
How to make it
Clean and halve the lobster. Melt butter in a pan, fry the minced garlic until fragrant (don't burn it!), add the lobster meat side down, season, and pan-fry until perfectly cooked and coated in garlic butter.
Pounded Yardlong Beans
Spicy, savory, and intensely flavorful. This classic pounded dish packs a massive punch of flavor into a compact space, making it a perfect side to pair with rice and grilled meats in a bento box.
Key Ingredients
- Yardlong beans (cut into short pieces)
- Garlic and bird's eye chilies
- Dried shrimp
- Lime juice, fish sauce, and a little sugar
How to make it
Pound the garlic and chilies first. Add the dried shrimp and pound briefly. Toss in the yardlong beans and gently pound to bruise them. Season with lime, fish sauce, and sugar to taste, mixing well in the mortar.
Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs
Tender, bite-sized ribs coated in a beautiful sticky glaze. Because the sauce is reduced until it clings tightly to the meat, it won't leak or run into other compartments of your lunchbox.
Key Ingredients
- Pork ribs (chopped into small pieces)
- Bell peppers, onions, carrots, and pineapple chunks
- Ketchup, chili sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar
- Minced garlic
- Spring onions (for garnish)
How to make it
First, mix your sauce: combine the sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, tomato sauce, chili sauce, and a little water. Fry the garlic until fragrant, then add the sauce mixture. Add your meat and vegetables, stir-fry until cooked, and finish by adding spring onions.
Shrimp Paste Fried Rice
The ultimate all-in-one meal. Deeply savory rice tossed with aromatic shrimp paste, surrounded by an array of colorful, dry toppings. It is visually stunning in a lunchbox and provides a mix of sweet, salty, and sour in every bite.
Key Ingredients
- Cooked rice (preferably day-old)
- Shrimp paste (Kapik)
- Sweet caramelized pork (Sarch Chrouk P'aem)
- Thinly sliced omelet
- Green mango, shallots, and fresh chili
How to make it
Stir-fry the rice with shrimp paste and a touch of garlic until well combined and fragrant. Serve the rice in the center of the box, surrounded by neat piles of sweet pork, sliced egg, and fresh garnishes.
