Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Cambodian cuisine" in English language version.
Cambodia is the country and therefore encompasses the ethnic majority, the Khmers, along with the Chinese, the Lao, the Cham, the Viet, the Samre, the Jarai. Cambodian food is a mix of all those cuisines. Khmer cuisine relates to a specific group without the capital idea of the influence of other groups.
The Angkor Empire had been the prevailing "Indianized" civilization in the region for centuries, whereby Indianization was not limited to religion and mythology, statemanship, architecture, writing and the fine arts, but also included the culinary arts as well. One would be hard-pressed to overestimate the centrality of the Mon-Khmer to the "Indianization" of Thai cuisine. One of the most widespread clichés concerning Thai cuisine holds that it is a fusion of "Indian curry and Chinese noodles". In point of fact, whereas numerous Chinese influences and dishes that were to become stalwart elements of Bangkok cuisine after being introduced by migrants during the nineteenth century, are quite evident, a similar direct Indian influence is difficult to identify. Paradoxically, this may be owing to the fact that the Indian influence is, indeed, fundamental and remains inconceivable without the mediating role of Mon civilizations and the Khmer Empire.
By contrast, the flavor principles of "Central Thai cuisine" (hereafter referred to simply as "Thai cuisine") are almost identical to those of neighboring Cambodia. The endless variations of sour fish soups or stews, along with the curries prepared with coconut milk (including the national dish amok), for example, will be familiar to anybody coming to Bangkok. One may well be surprised, though, to discover that Khmer cooks consider chili superfluous, like the liberal use of sugar, typical of modern Bangkok fare. The close culinary affinity becomes all the more apparent when contrasting the cuisine of Cambodia to that of Thailand's Northeast (and the related food of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Their flavour principles have little in common indeed. The reason for this affinity between Thai and Cambodian cuisine is most likely the pronounced, centuries-long contact between the empires of Angkor and Ayutthaya
In the lower southern part of Isan, there are three provinces with large Khmer populations. In these areas, Khmer cuisine, such as amok (hor mok in Thai), a wonderful seafood fish with red curries, is very popular.
While 10 perent of the population of Laos fled the country in the late 1970s and early 1980s, past Lao migrations had already affected and inspired the cuisine of the neighboring countries of Cambodia and northeastern Thailand.
Khmer food refers to the food cooked by Cambodia's predominantly Khmer population, while Cambodian food takes in everything: Khmer food, as well as Chinese-Cambodian, Chinese, and the specialties of Cambodia's Cham Muslims, such as Saraman curry, a cousin to Thailand's Massaman curry.
Similar to Cham influence, much of the curry eaten in Southern Vietnam has been affected by Khmer curries – also an extension of ancient Indian culture.
