Thai Larb

Easy to make, full of brilliant Thai flavours, few carbs, superdelicious. When you taste this lovely larb for the first time there is a chance that you'll be hooked forever! This spicy little dish has made it to the very top of my favourites and I hope you'll enjoy it as much as my family does.

You can use either pork or chicken meat but don't leave out the toasted rice because it plays a crucial part in the larb's crunchy texture. The toasted rice project is not difficult at all, as you'll notice further down.

I prefer using minced chicken and I also adjust the measures of spices to my liking. Some like it hot, you know. In Thailand they tend to serve larb with a salad or with sticky rice, but I normally serve it as finger food on lettuce leaves that are easy to bundle up and put in your mouth. This way the larb transforms into a tasty tapas dish.
Go ahead and make some healthy superfood after all the
Christmas indulgence!

Ingredients:

about 5 tablespoons of uncooked Thai (sticky) rice (directions on how to toast it and make it into powder further down)

300 grams minced chicken (or pork/beef)

1 tablespoon of chili flakes/dried chili or fresh minced chili

a pinch of sugar

1/2 - 1 tablespoon of fish sauce

1 - 2 limes

3 - 4 shallots

cilantro leaves

mint leaves/Thai sweet basil leaves

3 - 5 spring onions

Toasted rice:

Heat a frying pan on low heat and toss in the uncooked Thai rice. Don't use any oil. Stir continuously until it turns golden yellow. It takes about 10-15 minutes before it's done. When it has cooled off, put it into a stone mortar and pestle. Pound it until it turns into a coarse powder. You can also use a blender or food processor.

Larb:

1. Fry the meat in a saucepan until it's fully cooked. If you use pork meat a lot of fat will come out … you can either leave it or throw it away … depending on how healthy you feel. Take the pan off the heat. 

2. Add 1 1/2 tablespoon of the toasted rice powder (store the rest in a glass container and use another time) and the chili to the fried meat. Also add sugar, fish sauce and the juice from 1 lime. You can cut up the other lime and serve it on the side. Stir everything quickly together.

3. Peel and slice the shallots, finely mince 3 - 5 spring onions and a few cilantro and mint leaves. Mix them well with the larb. Check the taste and add more fish sauce, lime juice or chili if you feel like it. Spoon the larb onto lettuce leaves and garnish with more mint, Thai sweet basil and cilantro leaves.