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Fresh Spring Rolls at Vientiane’s Night Market

Vientiane, Laos - The sun is beating down on Vientiane’s concrete sidewalks and when it’s hot like this I like small meals with fresh flavors. Lao food delivers. Fruit shakes, pork balls with lots of greenery, and spring rolls, fresh or fried, can be found around town. The fresh spring rolls above are stuffed with mint, other herbs and rice noodles and served with a sweet-sour sauce with crushed peanuts. Fried rolls can also be found with a similar filling, but I like the ones with a mixture of ground pork and noodles, which stands up to the stronger flavor of frying oil. Most of all, I love the barbecued pork balls (naem nueang), that are served with a plate of lettuce and herbs (such as basil and mint), rice noodles, cut starfruit and cucumber, as well as a smoky, piquant sauce with crushed peanuts. Using the lettuce as a wrap, you can make each bite unique, varying the balance of herbs, noodles, fruit and sauce. It’s not a bad way to pass an hour before venturing back under the sun’s hot glare.

Fried Spring Rolls at Sawan Wieng

Pork Balls at Sawan Wieng

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