The sounds of pounding mortars filled the air on a humid morning in Cambodia. People from three different continents all dressed in matching black aprons laughed together as we mixed and mashed bright red chili and folded thin spring rolls. When the moment came for us to finally taste our creations, none were as surprised as me to find that our traditional Cambodian food was actually delicious!
When the directors of BYKOTA House suggested that some of my teammates and I go to a Cambodian cooking class, my first instinct was to say no. I have never been someone who has that knack for cooking. I cannot just dance into a kitchen and toss things together to make a delicious meal. Even when I am following a recipe, my tendency to daydream has caused some disasters in my kitchen. So when I heard about the opportunity to go to a Cambodian cooking class, I imagined being left to create an Asian food masterpiece and feeling completely ridiculous when everyone else succeeded except me. But I thought to myself, why not try it? So I signed up.
Our morning started with a trip to the market. As we pushed through the crowds, our teachers showed us all the different fruits and vegetables we would be using to cook. Nothing is more terrifying or more thrilling than a market in Cambodia. There are beautiful fruits and vegetables everywhere and the delicious smells that fill the air make your stomach rumble in anticipation. The terrifying part comes in the live (or recently dead) fish sprinkled in stands throughout the market. At least you know your meat is fresh!
After we identified all the things we would be using to cook, we were transported to a rooftop where the cooking class was held. We started with the spring rolls and as we mixed and mashed, my nervousness about cooking started to subside. Not only was it easy to make, it was fun! We made the spring rolls and sauce and then took a break to eat them, my favorite part.
After we consumed all the delicious spring rolls, we started on the main course, Fish Amok. This is the part that was a work out. We mashed chilies and all kinds of other ingredients together pounding it into a thick paste. Then we added our fish together with all the spices.
Fragile green leaves were brought out and we fashioned them into little boats. All fear of cooking aside, this was the hardest part! Once we made an acceptable boat for our dish, we added our fish and sauce to the boat and then put them in a pot to cook. This was the time to enjoy the cool breeze and refreshing water and visit with new friends from all over the world.
Finally the time came to enjoy our dinner! It was all the more delicious knowing that I cooked this Cambodian dish and I enjoyed every bite! When we turned in our aprons, we were handed a Cambodian cookbook with the recipes for the dishes we had made during the class, plus many more. Get ready friends and family for some yummy Cambodian food made by yours truly!
This cooking class was such a fun experience and reminded me to branch out and try new things. While I do not feel like I am suddenly a fantastic cook, I am no longer afraid to try. What is holding you back today from branching out and trying something new? You never know until you try how deliciously it could turn out.
