Khmer New Year Special Menu

Khmer New Year starts on the 13th or 14th of April and is usually celebrated for three days. It marks the end of the harvest and welcomes the rainy season. 

We have set together a special menu for the occasion, with local specialties, traditional for this holiday season, with seasonal fruits and vegetables.

The three course menu is available already now, both at Babel Guesthouse and at Babel Boutique hotel.

Starter: Shrimp Nime Khmer summer rolls with marinated shrimps, mango, rice noodles, fresh herbs, bean sprouts, bell pepper, carrots & lettuce. Served with a sweet & sour mango sauce.

Main: Somlor Curry Traditional Khmer New Year dish with hints of star anise, kefir lime, lemongrass, red chili & galgan. Made with fresh coconut milk, sweet potatoes, eggplant, long beans, onion and your choice of chicken, tofu or fish. Served with steamed rice.

Dessert: Num Plae Ai Small sticky rice spheres with a center of palm caramel topped with young grated coconut. Served with a sour dip made from a rare jungle fruit called kuy and marian plum.

Khmer New Year info

Day 1: Maha Sankranta Families prepare the house and help arranging foods and drinks to welcome the new spirit. 

 Day 2: Virak Vanabat Gifts and donations are offered to elders and less fortunate. Sand mounds are formed in a ritual at the pagoda to bring longevity and prosperity. 

 Day 3: Vearak Leung Sak In the “Pithi Srang Preah” ceremony religious statues are washed to remove bad deeds and gain blessings. It can be done to elders to apologize for past mistakes and to gratify them. Now, the new year can begin...