Khao laam, the delicious sticky rice cooked in bamboo.

One of the desserts sold and is still very popular in Thailand using traditional way to cook is khao laam or sticky rice in bamboo. Of course, it is delicious. But, another good part is that this is a very ecofriendly way using natural degradable container, bamboo, and it means both sellers and customers do not create excess amount of plastic wastes which have become the big environmental problem nowadays.

There are actually different types of bamboo. Only certain type suitable for using for making khao laam. There are also both more traditional recipe and the adapted ones. The traditional one has less ingredients; sticky rice soaked for a few hour in the water to make it a bit softer allowing the grains to absorb in some water, some coconut milk, and a bit of salt or sugar. The adapted version usually is sweeter and creamier because they add more coconut milk and sugar as well as other things such as sweet red beans. Or, instead of using white sticky rice some use black sticky rice. When ingredients are mixed together, they are put into the prepared bamboo pieces, cover the tops with banana leaves or coconut shell’s fiber, and then have them slowly cook over the hot charcoals. The ingredients inside the bamboo mingle together until it is well cooked, ready to serve.

When customers ask to buy, the vendors will cut open using the big knife, and give it right away to his/ her customers. The cooked khao laam is coated with the edible white inner bamboo fiber. The nice aroma of smoked rice mix with the good smell of the bamboo makes it more delicious when taking a bite. This is something unique and different from other ways of cooking food.

Customers not just have it opened and eat right away, but can purchase the whole khao laam with the bamboo pieces covers and bring back home to eat later. Some sellers do peel the bamboo pieces and make them thinner so that they will be lighter and easier to carry. Also, they will be easier to crack and strip off when customers want to eat. They can be kept in the cooler places, not in the refrigerator though, easily for a day or two.