ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Nam khao

Nam khao is a tasty snack from Laos that is made with crispy rice balls mixed with flavorful herbs, spices, and meat. Imagine taking cooked and sticky rice and forming it into little balls with your hands, and then frying them in hot oil until they get crispy and crunchy.

Then, you combine the crispy rice balls with fresh herbs like cilantro and mint, diced shallots, and cooked pork sausage. You add some seasoning like fish sauce, lime juice, and chili flakes to give it a zesty kick. Finally, you mix everything together and serve it with a side of lettuce leaves or cabbage to make little wraps.

It's like having a delicious crunchy salad that you can eat with your hands! Nam khao can be a little bit messy to eat, but it's so fun and flavorful that you won't mind getting a little bit of the crunchy rice and herb mixture on your fingers. It's a must-try snack if you get the chance to visit Laos or a Lao restaurant.