Nam khao
| Alternative names | Lao crispy rice salad, Lao fried rice ball salad |
|---|---|
| Type | Salad |
| Place of origin | Laos |
| Main ingredients | Rice balls, som moo, peanuts, grated coconut, scallions or shallots, mint, cilantro, lime juice, fish sauce |
 Cookbook: Nam khao  Media: Nam khao | |
Nam khao (Lao: ແໝມເຂົ້າ) also known as Lao crispy rice salad, Lao fried rice ball salad, nam kao tod, naem khao thawt, nem khao, "nam khun" or naem khao is a salad from Laos and is made with deep-fried rice balls, chunks of Lao-style fermented pork sausage called som moo, chopped peanuts, grated coconut, sliced scallions or shallots, mint, cilantro, lime juice, fish sauce, and other ingredients. Nam khao is traditionally eaten as a wrap by filling individual leaves (i.e. lettuce) with a spoonful of the tangy Nam khao mixture and then topping it with fresh herbs and dried chili peppers. The traditional Lao method of making Nam khao involves seasoning a batch of cooked rice with red curry paste, sugar, salt, and grated coconut, and then forming the mixture into tightly packed large rice balls to be coated with eggs and then deep-fried to form crispy rice balls. Prior to serving, the crispy rice balls are broken into little chunks of rice and then mixed with the rest of the ingredients to form the eventual crispy rice salad. Nam khao is a very popular Lao appetizer that is gaining popularity in the West.
See also
- Yam naem for the Thai version