One of Laos’ and Thailand’s favorite, Larb is certainly one of the tastiest dishes around. You’ll love its combination of minced meat, spiciness, and mixtures of vegetables in a wholesome and delicious dish. This goes well with another favorite, Som Tum and sticky rice. Ready to learn how to make it? You are more than welcome to substitute minced pork with any other minced meat of your choice.

First let’s get the ingredients ready. Please prepare the following:

1 tablespoon of cooking oil
2 tablespoons of regular drinking water
3 tablespoons of fish sauce
650 grams of minced pork of your choice (as mentioned, you are free to use other meats)
2 finely chopped fresh chilies (this is just for standard taste, add more if you dare)
¼ of thinly sliced shallots
5 sprigs of cilantro
1 lime (some might like to add an extra one for more flavor)
¼ tablespoon of ground dried chili (again, this is standard, add more if you wish)
3 springs of spear mint (optional but highly recommended)
1 tablespoon of chopped unsalted roasted peanuts

Add the oil into the pot and let it heat for a short while. While waiting, get ¾ of your lime (save the rest for later) and squeeze the juice onto the meat. The marinating process is short, just a couple of minutes of mixing will do.  Now grab the water, pour it into the pot and follow it up with the meat. Cook it until it is well-done.

Afterwards, pour in the cooked meat onto a mixing bowl. This is when you add in the most of the ingredients. In no particular order, pour in the fish sauce, the rest of the lime juice and then add in the fresh chilies, ground chilies, the shallots, the cilantro and the chopped unsalted roasted peanuts. Make sure to mix it while you keep adding the ingredients.

Now pour your creation onto a serving dish. Garnish it with the spearmint and serve it. Or eat it yourself. In addition to the Somt Tum and sticky rice, the dish is also served with vegetables, such as cabbage, green beans, lettuce and Thai basil.

Sometimes you just have to go to the source. Get a Taste of Laos and explore the tantalizing dishes the country has to offer. Get ready for a detailed journey across the country, tasting the finest food on offer, experiencing the heart of the nation’s culture and learning how to prepare the dishes yourself. See more of the country by visiting our Laos tour page.

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