Nataing

Nataing
Alternative namesKhao Tang Na Tang
Place of originCambodia or Thailand
Main ingredientsGround pork, cloves, shallots, coconut milk, peanuts, fish sauce, rice cakes
Food energy
(per serving)
450[1] kcal
Nutritional value
(per serving)
Protein15[1] g
Fat39[1] g
Carbohydrate15[1] g

Nataing (Khmer: ណាតាំង) or Khao Tang Na Tang (Thai: ข้าวตังหน้าตั้ง) is a Cambodian and Thai[2][3] style red pork curry dip. It is a creamy ground pork dish cooked in coconut milk, often served with rice cakes.

It is one of Cambodian cuisine's most sophisticated and popular appetizers due to its many fragrant ingredients.[4]

Origin

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It is often considered to be either a royal Khmer or royal Thai dish and is claimed by both Cambodia and Thailand. In Cambodia, nataing is believed to have ultimately originated from the countryside as a way to eat rice crust (Khmer: បាយកាដាង, bai kdaing) from rice stuck on the bottom of the cooking pot or rice crackers made from flattened and sun-dried leftover rice.[5]

Variations

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Longteine De Monteiro's 1998 The Elephant Walk Cookbook alternatively suggests serving the dip on slices of quickly fried baguette or pairing nataing with pickled vegetables or other acidic side dishes.[6] A variation of nataing favored by the Khmer royalty uses chicken meat that has been finely strained before cooking. An even more extravagant version incorporates lobster as the main ingredient.[2]

In a vegan variation of nataing, ground pork is substituted with tofu or seitan and fish sauce is replaced with light soy sauce.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Labensky, Sarah; Hause, Alan M.; Martel, Priscilla M. (2018). On Cooking: A Textbook of Culinary Fundamentals. Pearson plc. p. 407. ISBN 978-0-13-444190-0.
  2. ^ a b Carter, Terrence. "Khao Tang Na Tang Rice Cakes – Chilli Prawn & Pork Dip Recipe". Grantourismo Travels. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  3. ^ ""Khao Tang Na Tang" Thai Appetizer with Jackfruit". Wholesomm. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  4. ^ Seng Jameson, Narin (2010). Cooking the Cambodian Way: The Intertwined Story of Cooking and Culture in Cambodia. Caring for Cambodia. p. 38. ISBN 978-999-63-601-0-7.
  5. ^ Carter, Terrence (1 October 2019). "Natang Recipe for a Pork Coconut & Peanut Dip". Grantourismo Travels. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  6. ^ De Monteiro, Longteine; Neustadt, Katherine (1998). The Elephant Walk Cookbook: Cambodian Cuisine from the Nationally Acclaimed Restaurant. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 52. ISBN 0395892538.