This Laotian dish is popular in the mountainous region of Luang Prabang, the magical city in the northern part of Central Laos.
It is a complex and mildly spicy stew, multi layered with flavors and textures, creating a unique, nutritious and delicious dish. It possesses a subtle harmony within a charismatic orchestra of flavors and textures; the taste of meat coupled with the sweetness of vegetables, opposing the bitterness of the greens and willingly surrendering to the aroma of fresh dill and fragrant lemon basil
The stew’s base is a mild peppery broth prepared by slowly simmering lemongrass, chili and pepper wood (sakhaan) with the preferred meat, depends on the type of meat, it can be used fresh, dried, salted or grilled.
The meat of choice is usually dried and salted buffalo meat, but really, any meat can be used – game meat (usually roasted first), quails, small jungle birds, deer, beef and even the common chicken will make a great Or Lam.
Occasionally, stripes of sun-dried buffalo skin are also added, precooked in salty water to eliminate the leathery odor, to the point where they are soft and gelatinous, with a jelly-like consistency.