Num pang explained

Num pang
Alternate Name:	nom pang, nompang, nombang, Cambodian sandwich
Country:	Cambodia
Type:	Sandwich
Main Ingredient:	Baguette, mayonnaise, meat, vegetables, herbs
Similar Dish:	bánh mì, khao jee pâté

In Cambodian cuisine, num pang (Central Khmer: នំបុ័ង in Central Khmer pronounced as /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 (Central Khmer: នំបុ័ងសាច់ in Central Khmer pronounced as /num paŋ sac/; "bread with meats"). It is similar to Laos's khao jee pâté and Vietnam's bánh mì.

History

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

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

• Num pang pâté (Central Khmer: នំបុ័ងប៉ាតេ) with pâté, a variety of cold cuts, mayonnaise, pickled carrots and daikon, cucumbers and fresh herbs (such as coriander).^[6]
• Num pang brahet (Central Khmer: 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 (Central Khmer: នំបុ័ងសាច់ជ្រូក) with braised pork belly, mayonnaise, pickled carrots and papaya, and fresh herbs (such as coriander).
• Num pang sach ko (Central Khmer: នំបុ័ងសាច់គោ) with grilled lemongrass beef skewers, mayonnaise, pickled carrots and papaya, cucumber and fresh herbs.
• Num pang trey khaw (Central Khmer: នំបុ័ងខត្រី) with fish simmered in tomato sauce, mayonnaise, pickled carrots and papaya, cucumber, and fresh herbs (such as coriander).

External links

• Coconut Shrimp Sandwich Recipe From Num Pang | Between the Bread. PopSugar Food. 23 October 2013.
• Jenn Harris. What We’re Into: Obsessing over the spicy pork num pang from Gamboge. Los Angeles Times Food. 8 December 2020.

Notes and References

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