In Cambodian cuisine, num pang (Khmer: នំបុ័ង [num paŋ]; from French: pain – "bread") is a short baguette with thin, crisp crust and soft, airy texture. It is often split lengthwise and filled with savory ingredients like a submarine sandwich and served as a meal, called num pang sach (នំបុ័ងសាច់ [num paŋ sac]; "bread with meats"). It is similar to Laos's khao jee pâté and Vietnam's bánh mì.

Num pang
Num pang with pork belly
Alternative namesnom pang, nompang, nombang, Cambodian sandwich
TypeSandwich
Place of originCambodia
Main ingredientsBaguette, mayonnaise, meat, vegetables, herbs
Similar dishesbánh mì, khao jee pâté

History

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Baguettes were adopted into Cambodian cuisine from the French when Cambodia was a protectorate in French Indochina.[1]

More recently, num pang has spread outside of Cambodia with eateries specializing in num pang opened in cities, such as New York,[2] Washington,[3] Boston,[4] and Melbourne.[5]

Variations

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There are a number regional variations of num pang with different fillings:

  • Num pang pâté (នំបុ័ងប៉ាតេ) with pâté, a variety of cold cuts, mayonnaise, pickled carrots and daikon, cucumbers and fresh herbs (such as coriander).[6]
  • Num pang brahet (នំបុ័ងប្រហិត) with pork meatballs, mayonnaisee, pickled carrots and daikon, salad, and fresh herbs (such as coriander, mint and basil). A very popular street food snack in Siem Reap.[7]
  • Num pang sach chruk (នំបុ័ងសាច់ជ្រូក) with braised pork belly, mayonnaise, pickled carrots and papaya, and fresh herbs (such as coriander).
  • Num pang sach ko (នំបុ័ងសាច់គោ) with grilled lemongrass beef skewers, mayonnaise, pickled carrots and papaya, cucumber and fresh herbs.
  • Num pang trey khaw (នំបុ័ងខត្រី) with fish simmered in tomato sauce, mayonnaise, pickled carrots and papaya, cucumber, and fresh herbs (such as coriander).

References

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  1. ^ Rivière, Joannès (2008). Cambodian Cooking: A humanitarian project in collaboration with Act for Cambodia. Periplus Editions. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-794-65039-1.
  2. ^ Kludt, Amanda (23 June 2011). "Num Pang Sandwich Shop Now Open in Midtown". Eater. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  3. ^ Jones, Caroline (7 May 2015). "The 'Wiching Hour: Maketto's Cambodian "Num Pang" Pork Sandwich". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  4. ^ Cain, Jacqueline (9 May 2017). "Num Pang Lands in Boston This Week". Boston. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Kampot Kitchen shares Cambodian culture through num pang baguettes". Seasoned Traveller. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  6. ^ Dunston, Lara. "Num Pang Pate Recipe – Cambodian Style Vietnamese Banh Mi". Grantourismo Travels. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  7. ^ Dunston, Lara. "Num Pang with Meatballs Recipe for a Summer Baguette Sandwich". Grantourismo Travels. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
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