Larb (Thai Meat Salad)

Thailand's national salad — minced chicken with lime, fish sauce, herbs, and toasted rice.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground chicken (or pork)
• 3 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp chili flakes
• 3 shallots, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup fresh mint
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
• 2 tbsp toasted rice powder (toast raw rice in dry pan, grind)
• Lettuce cups for serving

Method

1. Cook ground chicken in a dry pan 5 min, breaking into fine pieces. Cool slightly.

2. Toss with lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, chili flakes.

3. Add shallots, mint, cilantro, toasted rice powder. Toss.

4. Serve in lettuce cups.

What You're Practicing

• Toasted rice powder adds a nutty crunch that is essential to larb — don't skip it.
• The dressing is mixed into the warm meat, not served on the side.
• This is Thailand's most popular salad — eaten daily across the country.