When there is a Boun (Lao Festival), my relatives in Laos would take their time to make Khao Tom (Lao: ເຂົ້າຕົ້ມ; Thai: ข้าวต้ม), which is sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf with various fillings like banana, mung bean, or black bean. This is part of the Buddhist merit making, offering food and drinks to the Buddhist monks as part of a religious ceremony.
My aunts alos like to make Khao Nom Naep and steamed layer mung bean cake as additional sweet treat for Alms Offering. My relatives in Pakse call this Khao Nom So Se, Khao Nom Xo Xe ( ເຂົ້າຫນົມໂຊເຊ ) or Khao Nom Jai Thua Khea ເຂົ້າຫນົມໃຈຖົ່ວຂຽວ (sweet treat with heart of mung bean). It takes time and extra effort to mix the ingredients from scratch and steaming layer by layer of this delicious sweet treat.
The next time I am in Laos, I would like to take my time and record the cooking process of the steamed layer cake so I can attempt to make it myself once I get back.
