In a heated pan, poach minced chicken breast in water until it is cooked.
Turn off the flame and mix in fish sauce, lime juice, and shallots.
Add spring onions, coriander leaves, sawtooth coriander, mint leaves, chilli flakes, and toasted and ground raw glutinous rice, and give it a final mix.
Your chicken larb salad is now ready.
Ingredients
Directions
In a heated pan, poach minced chicken breast in water until it is cooked.
Turn off the flame and mix in fish sauce, lime juice, and shallots.
Add spring onions, coriander leaves, sawtooth coriander, mint leaves, chilli flakes, and toasted and ground raw glutinous rice, and give it a final mix.
Your chicken larb salad is now ready.
Tips
- Use fresh herbs: Fresh herbs such as mint, coriander, and sawtooth coriander are important ingredients in larb salad, and they add a lot of flavor to the dish. Be sure to use fresh, high-quality herbs for the best results.
- Toast and grind the rice: Toasted and ground raw glutinous rice is a traditional ingredient in larb salad. Toast the rice in a dry pan until golden brown and then grind it into a fine powder in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. This will add a nutty flavor and a bit of crunch to the salad.
- Adjust seasoning to taste: Thai larb salad has a balance of sour, salty, spicy, and sweet flavors. Adjust the fish sauce, lime juice, and chilli flakes to taste, and be sure to taste the salad before serving.
- Use good quality meat: Choose lean chicken or beef for larb salad. Minced or ground meat works best as it absorbs the flavors well. Also, be sure to cook the meat until it is fully cooked and no longer pink.
- Serve with lettuce leaves: Thai larb salad is traditionally served with lettuce leaves, which are used to wrap the salad. The cool, crisp lettuce provides a nice contrast to the warm, flavorful salad.
- Let the salad rest: After mixing all the ingredients together, let the salad rest for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. This will also give the toasted rice time to soften slightly and absorb some of the dressing.
- Garnish with fresh herbs: Before serving, garnish the salad with additional fresh herbs, such as coriander, mint, and sawtooth coriander. This will add a pop of color and freshness to the dish.
FAQs
Q: What is larb salad?
A: Larb salad is a traditional Thai salad made with minced meat (usually chicken or beef) that has been cooked and mixed with a variety of herbs and spices, including fish sauce, lime juice, chilli flakes, and toasted and ground raw glutinous rice.
Q: Is larb salad spicy?
A: Yes, larb salad is typically quite spicy due to the addition of chilli flakes. However, you can adjust the level of spiciness to your taste by adding more or less chilli flakes.
Q: Can I use a different type of meat for larb salad?
A: Yes, you can use different types of meat such as pork or tofu as a vegetarian alternative. The key is to use a lean, minced meat or protein that will absorb the flavors of the herbs and spices.
Q: Can I make larb salad in advance?
A: Yes, you can make the salad a few hours in advance, but it’s best to add the fresh herbs just before serving to keep them crisp and flavorful.
Q: Can I serve larb salad with something other than lettuce leaves?
A: Yes, you can serve larb salad with other types of greens or vegetables, such as cabbage or cucumber. Alternatively, you can serve it over a bed of rice or noodles.
Q: Can I make larb salad spicy without using chilli flakes?
A: Yes, you can add fresh chillies or a spicy sauce like sriracha to the salad instead of chilli flakes.
Q: Can I make larb salad in a vegetarian or vegan version?
A: Yes, you can use tofu instead of meat or use a vegetarian meat alternative. You can also substitute fish sauce with soy sauce and oyster sauce with vegan oyster sauce.