6 Must Try Cuisines In Myanmar

Erstwhile known as Burma, Myanmar is a country which represents more of a picture of serene mountains and Buddhist temples. Although, the country is not as famous as Thailand when it comes to food, Myanmar can surely be a delight for foodies.

Food in Myanmar is delicious and very healthy, with a big variety of curries, soups, snacks and salads. The cooking is strongly influenced by its neighbouring countries; Laos, Thailand, China, Bangladesh and India. One of the most potent ingredients (like in many South East Asian countries) is fish sauce and ‘ngapi’ (fermented seafood) – giving dishes a very distinct and strong flavour.

Here are 6 must try cuisines which will make you fall in love with Myanmar:

* Lephet

This salad is tasty and different from all the salads you would have ever tried before. It’s a mixture of pickled tea leaves, cabbage, onion, tomatoes, garlic, oil, salt, lime, and a mix of beans and roasted peanuts. To flavour, you can also add dried shrimp, toasted sesame seeds and chopped tomato. The dish is an important part of Burmese culture and was believed to be an ancient symbol of peace during times when the kingdoms of Burma would disagree. It was eaten (and shared nicely) in company after a dispute had been settled. If everyone ate the salad, then it was seen that the resolution of the argument had been accepted.

* Mohinga

This is Myanmar’s national dish. It is a fish noodle soup typically consumed for breakfast, although you can buy it from street stalls and teahouses at any time of the day. It is made differently in different parts of the country, but is typically made with fresh fish. (In landlocked countries this can be exchanged for meat). The soup consists of garlic, onions, rice, lemongrass, ginger, fish sauce, cat fish, and chickpea flour and served with rice vermicelli noodles. It is garnished with toasted garlic, coriander, chopped spring onions and lime.

* Shan noodles

Originating from the eastern Shan region of Burma, which borders China, Shan noodles can be prepared in a salad or a soup. The soup is made with sticky and flat rice noodles and the salad version uses thicker rice noodles. The dish is quite simple, but delicious! It is made with chicken, tomatoes, chickpea flour, peanuts, spring onions, garlic, chili and soy sauce. Usually serve with pickled vegetables and fried pork shreds.

* Nan Gyi Thohk noodles

This dish is also known as the “Burmese spaghetti”. It may be a little salty and spicy for a normal palette so it is generally served with lemons and onions on the side; besides, since this is a quite dry dish it also is accompanied with a small bowl of broth. Other toppings for Nan Gyi Thohk noodle are fish cake, hard-boiled egg, onions, chilies and crispy noodle. In addition, some piece of lemons or limes are also available to help diners lower the fatty taste of this dish, make it easier to eat.

* Burmese Curry

Different from the strong flavour of the popular Indian-style Curry, Burmese Curry uses less curry powder and its flavour is a mix of curry, garlic, ginger and onion. You can choose the meat inside the curry from among pork, beef, chicken, mutton and seafood – convenient multiple choices for your taste. Another special thing of eating Burmese Curry is that it is accompanied with some other signature dishes in Myanmar such as Tealeaf Salad (Lephet) – the must-eat Burmese appetizer and traditional dessert like some chunks of palm sugar and nuts, all is served elegantly in a lacquered box.

* Burmese Sweet Snacks

There are variety of Burmese Sweet Snacks sold on streets in Myanmar and as they are the necessary part of the locals, it is definitely a must-try dish in this land. If you have a sweet tooth, you may find out that these snacks are not really sweet as you think because the locals usually don’t use sugar on these dishes and the nature sweet from ingredients is mostly used such as fruits, raisin, coconut milk, grated coconut, etc. With considerable less sugar and made from natural ingredients, Burmese Sweet Snacks are definitely the perfect choice for an afternoon break on your long travel day.