The Onion Family

ALLIUM CEPA is the scientific name of various onion plants. The general Lao name for these is phak boua. The common large onion is known as phak bona nyai.

Shallots are used in Lao cookery far more than big onions. The shallots obtainable in Laos are smaller than European or American ones, so a larger number is needed. We have reminded the reader of this in the translations of Phia Sing’s recipes, by adding ‘(small)’ before shallots when he specifies a number. The Lao name for the shallot is horn boua haeng, or phak boua houa pom, or houa phak boua. Shallots are always sold dried (hence haeng in the first name cited) and have a purplish skin. The dried bulbs of spring onions (see next page), which are sometimes used instead, have a brown skin.