About this Dish
Cambodia's beloved breakfast noodles in a green fish and lemongrass gravy.
History & Origin
Sold fresh each morning by vendors carrying baskets on shoulder poles, nom banh chok is widely considered Cambodia's true national dish, older than amok.
IngredientsServes 4
🐟Fresh fish fillets (snakehead or catfish), 500g
🍜Fresh rice vermicelli noodles (nom banh chok), 600g
🌿Lemongrass stalks, 4 stalks finely sliced
🫚Kaffir lime leaves, 6 leaves thinly sliced
🟡Turmeric root, 1 thumb-sized piece peeled and grated
🧄Garlic cloves, 6 cloves
🧅Shallots, 5 medium shallots
🐟Fish sauce, 3 tablespoons
🫙Fermented fish paste (prahok), 1 tablespoon
🌱Fresh banana flower, bean sprouts, and mint for serving
Method
1
Blend lemongrass, shallots, garlic, turmeric, and kaffir lime leaves together with a splash of water until you have a smooth, fragrant green-yellow paste. This kroeung paste is the soul of the dish, so blend it as fine as possible.2
Poach the fish fillets in 1 litre of water for about 10 minutes until cooked through. Remove the fish, let it cool slightly, then flake the flesh carefully by hand, discarding all bones and skin. Keep the poaching broth.3
Fry the kroeung paste in 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat for 5–7 minutes, stirring constantly until it becomes fragrant and slightly darkened. Add the prahok and fish sauce and stir for another minute.4
Pour the reserved fish broth into the paste and bring to a gentle simmer. Add the flaked fish back in, stirring well so it breaks down further into the broth, giving the gravy a thick, slightly chunky texture. Taste and adjust with more fish sauce if needed.5
Simmer the gravy on low heat for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The finished sauce should be lightly thick and vibrant green from the lemongrass — not soupy, but not a heavy paste either.6
To serve, place a generous nest of fresh rice vermicelli into each bowl and ladle the warm fish gravy over the top. Arrange sliced banana flower, bean sprouts, fresh mint, and extra kaffir lime leaves on the side for guests to add themselves.User Reviews
No reviews yet — be the first!
Sign in to leave a review
Members can create lists, save favourites and get recommendations.
Find the Best Nom Banh Chok Near Me
AI-powered — Google, TripAdvisor and food blogs
🌍 Food Vlogs
Food vloggers eating and cooking it at the source
🌍
No videos yet
What To Eat
The World's Food Guide
© 2025 What To Eat · hello@whattoeat.world