Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables: Cambodian Style

This weekend I (AJ) have been at my boss' house, enjoying her garden, large un-cage-like windows, espresso maker, and ginormous kitchen. Without thinking, I planned to walk to the market at 5 after work. Bad idea (stupid really, 'HELLO it's RAINY season!'). Like nearly every afternoon at 5, it was raining buckets. Still committed, I donned my rain coat and moto-ed to the small market in the Cham village down the road.

I was happy to recognize the seller I had previously met on my last market stop, and she ensured that I indeed had all the ingredients to make 'cha bonlie croup mouck' [aka. stir-fried mixed vegetables]. Content with vegetables + exotic fruits, I headed home, raining but not yet dark.

My friend Karen & I chopped + sliced + cubed the following veggies:

• 2 tomatoes, cubed
• 1 green pepper, cubed
• 1 handful of button mushrooms, sliced in half
• 2 white onions, sliced
• 1.5 carrots, thinly sliced
• 2 handfuls of long green beans, cut into 3 inch pieces
• 2 potatoes, cubed
• 1 chunk of pumpkin, cubed

We also added 1 whole bunch of garlic, crushed + 1 whole bunch of garlic, chopped.
The dish was easy (and would have been even easier if the wok was bigger!). First we added a bit of oil and the garlic should go in next, along with the carrots and potatoes. Add soy sauce + freshly ground pepper. Then add the green pepper, onions, and pumpkin. Add more soy sauce + pepper. A few minutes later add the beeans and the mushrooms. Last but not least add the tomatoes. Taste and add soy sauce or pepper to taste.

We also added 3 small red chillis, which was too spicy. Add 2 or add 3 minus the seeds.

Dish over rice. Serves 3-4 people.

In addition, our accompanying rice was also an adventure. Unable to find a rice cooker, [until already boiling] we braved the pot. As the rice expanded more and more each time we peeked under the lid, we expected a 'Lucille Ball + chocolate factory conveyor belt' memory- of overflowing rice everywhere. To our surprise the rice was heaping perfectly at the brim & not burned or undercooked when finished. NO recipe had for this once-in-a-lifetime achievement.