Salads
Salads in Myanmar are an essential part of the cuisine and are known for their bold, balanced flavors. Typically made by mixing ingredients by hand, they combine tastes such as sour, salty, spicy, and umami. The base can include noodles, vegetables, or fermented items, and they are often seasoned with oil, lime juice, garlic, chili, and sometimes fermented fish products. Burmese salads are commonly enjoyed as snacks, side dishes, or light meals and are deeply rooted in traditional food culture.
Tea leaf salad
Tea leaf salad is one of Myanmar’s most iconic and beloved traditional dishes. Known locally as Lahpet Thoke, it features a unique combination of pickled green tea leaves tossed with a delightful mix of crunchy and savory ingredients. The salad usually includes fried garlic, roasted peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, fried yellow split peas, chopped tomatoes, cabbage, and a touch of lime juice and chili for a bright and flavorful kick.
Pennywort Salad
Pennywort Salad is a healthy, herb-based salad made from pennywort leaves, a traditional medicinal plant known for its cooling and detoxifying properties. The salad includes ingredients like fried garlic, roasted peanuts, sesame seeds, dried shrimp (optional), and a sour touch from lime. Its flavor is earthy with a slightly bitter note from the pennywort, balanced by the nuttiness of sesame and garlic oil.
Tofu Salad
Tofu Salad uses Shan-style yellow tofu made from chickpea flour, giving it a smooth, custard-like texture and a nutty flavor. This tofu is served cold and mixed with garlic oil, roasted chickpea flour, sesame seeds, onions. The result is a mild, creamy, and refreshing salad that is light yet satisfying. It is especially popular in Shan regions and among vegetarians, often served as a main salad or light lunch.
Tomato salad
Tomato Salad is a light and refreshing Burmese salad made from fresh ripe tomatoes, thinly sliced onions, roasted peanuts, sesame seeds, fried garlic, and a tangy dressing of lime juice and fish sauce. It has a simple yet vibrant flavor such as tangy, slightly sweet, and savory — with a crunchy texture from the peanuts and onions. This salad is commonly enjoyed as a side dish or appetizer, especially during the hot season, and is loved for its cooling and bright taste.