Luke Nguyen's Greater Mekong S1 | Episode guide

With a huge extended family scattered throughout Vietnam, Luke is inspired to learn that they all have one thing in common – a love for food. On our journey of Vietnam's southern region, we travel from Saigon, through the Mekong Delta, and north along the coast to the World Heritage-listed city of Hoi An. Along the way, we meet many of Luke’s relatives, who share with him the secrets of Vietnamese cuisine, and help him discover the tiny cottage industries that have been creating vital ingredients for many centuries.

Source: Luke Nguyen's Greater Mekong - Series 1

Episode 1 - Kunming, China

Celebrated chef, Luke Nguyen, in the third instalment of his popular series, takes us on a culinary journey across the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia.

Recipes

Uyghur spicy beef skewers

Fish mint stem and tofu salad

Crossing the bridge noodles

Episode 2 - Dali and Shaxi, China

In the second episode of Luke Nguyen's Greater Mekong, Luke discovers the unique flavours and culinary traditions of the Bai and Yai people in the historic towns of Dali and Shaxi in China's Yunnan Province.

Recipes

Steamed fish with salted soy beans and glass noodles

Dali vegetarian rice noodle stir-fry

Lucky red braised pork belly

Wild shaxi mushrooms wok tossed with cured pork

Episode 3 - Lijiang, China

In the third episode of Luke Nguyen's Greater Mekong, Luke reaches the fabled town of Lijiang in China's Yunnan Province, where the nightlife reigns and a Naxi "aunty" teaches Luke how to cook a local speciality.

Recipes

Chargrilled fish with crispy mint

Lijiang baba

One-thousand layer pork belly

Episode 4: Xishuangbana, China

In the fourth episode of Luke Nguyen's Greater Mekong, Luke journeys to Xishuangbana, where China meets Southeast Asia, to experience Dai culture and cuisines, and try the acquired tastes of the famous tea horse trail.

Recipes

Tea-infused sticky sesame dumplings

Chargrilled lemongrass Telopea fish

Chargrilled banana leaf, filled with chicken and Asian herbs

Episode 5: Yangon, Myanmar

In the fifth episode of Luke Nguyen's Greater Mekong, Luke discovers the little known foods and flavours of Yangon – the former capital city of Myanmar.

Recipes

Mohinga

Vegetable wraps

King prawn and tomato curry

Episode 6: Inle Lake, Myanmar

In the sixth episode of Luke Nguyen's Greater Mekong, Luke ventures to the Shan State, where entire villages and kilometres of tomato farms float upon Inle Lake.

Recipes

Chickpea tofu soup

Green tomato salad

Crispy spring onion fritter

Episode 7: Keng Tung, Myanmar

In the seventh episode of Luke Nguyen's Greater Mekong, Luke hikes to the hill tribe villages of the Shan State and the township of Keng Tung, where he cooks some unusual delicacies and local marketplace favourites.

Recipes

Young bamboo shoots stuffed with pork and ginger leaf

Warm buffalo-skin salad

Stir-fried aromatic smoked beef

Episode 8: Chiang Khong, Thailand

In the eighth episode of Luke Nguyen's Greater Mekong, Luke makes it to the town of Chiang Khong in northern Thailand, where he literally catches the ingredients for his traditional Tom Yum fish soup and tasty northern-style frog curry.

Recipes

Pork chargrilled in bamboo

Catfish tom yum

Rice paddy frog curry

Episode 9: Mae Salong, Thailand

In the ninth episode of Luke Nguyen's Greater Mekong, Luke arrives at mountainous Mae Salong, where he prepares a rustic tomato dish with Apear, an Aka grandmother.

Recipes

Banana trunk and chicken curry

Spicy tomato dip

Slow-braised pork hock with star anise and cassia

Episode 10: Chiang Mai, Thailand

In the final episode of Luke Nguyen's Greater Mekong, Luke hits the bustling town of Chiang Mai, where he laps up the nightlife cooking Thai classics, such as green papaya salad.

Recipes

Chargrilled Chiang Mai pork belly

Warm young jackfruit salad