Skip to content

Nok Kho Hum Sai Kalampi

Origin: LaotianPeriod: Traditional

Nok Kho Hum Sai Kalampi is a traditional Laotian clear broth soup characterized by its delicate, clean flavor profile and minimal ingredient composition. The dish features tender cabbage simmered in a lightly seasoned consommé, finished with freshly cracked black pepper and aromatic coriander leaves, resulting in a refined yet humble preparation. Rooted in the culinary traditions of Laos, it exemplifies the Southeast Asian philosophy of balancing simplicity with nuanced herbal and spiced notes to achieve a deeply nourishing bowl.

Cultural Significance

Clear broth soups of this nature hold an important place in Laotian domestic cooking, frequently prepared as restorative meals for the ill, elderly, or postpartum mothers due to their perceived digestive and medicinal properties. The use of coriander and black pepper reflects longstanding Laotian reliance on garden herbs and spices as both flavoring agents and traditional remedies. Precise historical documentation of this specific recipe remains limited, and its origins are largely attributed to regional home cooking practices passed down through oral tradition.

nut-free
Prep25 min
Cook50 min
Total75 min
Servings4
Difficultyintermediate

Ingredients

  • fresh quail
    plucked, gutted, washed and sprinkled with salt and ground black pepper
    1 unit
  • straight-bulbed spring onions
    crushed and stuffed into the bird (tie the bird's feet and wings to its body using wire) butter, the size of a hen's egg
    5 unit
  • cabbage
    cut into quarters
    1 unit
  • 1 unit
  • 1 unit
  • pig's bone broth
    1 unit

Method

1
Prepare the cabbage by removing any tough outer leaves, then cut the head into quarters and slice into bite-sized pieces approximately 2 inches wide.
5 minutes
2
Rinse the cabbage pieces thoroughly under cold running water and drain well in a colander.
2 minutes
3
Pour approximately 4 cups of water into a medium pot and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
5 minutes
4
Season the boiling water with a pinch of salt to create a light, clear broth base, adjusting seasoning to taste.
1 minutes
5
Add the prepared cabbage pieces to the boiling broth and reduce the heat to medium, allowing the cabbage to simmer until just tender but not mushy.
8 minutes
6
Remove the pot from heat and ladle the clear soup with cabbage into individual serving bowls.
2 minutes
7
Finish each bowl with a generous pinch of freshly cracked black pepper and a handful of fresh coriander leaves scattered over the surface.
8
Serve the soup immediately while hot, ensuring the coriander leaves remain fresh and vibrant for optimal aroma and presentation.

Academic Citations

No academic sources yet.

Know a reference for this recipe? Add a citation