Larb, also known as Thai/Lao Spicy Salad, is one of the most popular dishes in Thailand, particularly in the Isaan region in the Northeastern part of the country.
The dish is basically a spicy meat salad, featuring options like ground pork, ground chicken, duck, or mushroom, and it is probably one of my favorite Isaan dishes out there.
What I love most about larb is how it infused a blend of dry chili flakes, zesty lime juice, a hint of sugar, savory fish sauce, aromatic toasted rice powder, shallots, and a ton of fresh herbs like long coriander, saw leaf coriander, spring onions, and fragrant mint leaves, together creating a uniquely exquisite tastes, unlike any other Thai food out there.
Preparing this dish is remarkably swift and straightforward, taking less than 30 minutes of your time. Begin by sautéing the ground pork in a pan with water for approximately 3-5 minutes, allowing it to attain a delightful golden brown hue.
Afterward, mix all the ingredients together, and make sure you add the toasted rice powder to give that crunchy and smoky texture the Isaan dish is known for.
You can enjoy pork larb in various ways. Usually, it's served with sticky rice. But you can make it your own by picking whichever herbs you prefer. Unlike how Westerners eat salad on its own, most Thais eat larb with a handful of vegetables like lettuce, long beans, cucumber, and carrots on the side. If you're a fan of Thai herbs and its unique textures and want to cook one of the most flavorful Thai dishes at home, you are going to love this recipe. Let’s get cooking!
To make this recipe, you are going to need:
- 170 g. Ground pork
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup shallot, tiny slice
- 2 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1-2 tablespoon chili flakes
- ½ tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 tablespoon toasted rice powder
- ⅓ cup Spring onion
- ⅓ cup saw leaf coriander
- ¼ cup mint leaves
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make Authentic Thai Spicy Pork Larb Recipe
1 First, gather all your essential ingredients.
2 Using a skillet set to medium heat, pour in half a cup of water and allow it to come to a boil. Once it's boiling, add the ground pork and cook it until it begins to turn golden brown, which usually takes around 3 to 5 minutes.
3 Take the pork out of the pan. Then, add sugar, fish sauce, chili flakes, toasted rice powder, and thinly sliced shallots to the pan.
4 Make sure to thoroughly mix all the ingredients together until they are well combined.
5 Next, include all the Thai herbs - green onions, saw leaf coriander, mint leaves - and stir them in to blend with the other ingredients.
6 And that is it. You can serve Larb with sticky rice or, if you prefer, add a side of lettuce, long beans, cucumber, and carrots, or you can eat it with a bowl of jasmine rice on the side.
Other Thai Recipes You Might Like
Here are some of my favorite Thai that I think you might like. For more Thai cuisine, check out my Thai recipe page.
Authentic Thai Spicy Pork Larb Recipe
Let's make an authentic Thai pork larb, an aromatic and flavorful pork salad, with our easy-to-follow recipe and enjoy one of the most delightful Isaan dishes at home.
Ingredients
- 170 g. Ground pork
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup shallot, tiny slice
- 2 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1-2 tablespoon chili flakes
- ½ tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 tablespoon toasted rice powder
- ⅓ cup Spring onion
- ⅓ cup saw leaf coriander
- ¼ cup mint leaves
Directions
- First, gather all your essential ingredients.
- Using a skillet set to medium heat, pour in half a cup of water and allow it to come to a boil. Once it’s boiling, add the ground pork and cook it until it begins to turn golden brown, which usually takes around 3 to 5 minutes.
- Take the pork out of the pan. Then, add sugar, fish sauce, chili flakes, toasted rice powder, and thinly sliced shallots to the pan.
- Make sure to thoroughly mix all the ingredients together until they are well combined.
- Next, include all the Thai herbs - green onions, saw leaf coriander, mint leaves - and stir them in to blend with the other ingredients.
- And that is it. You can serve Larb with sticky rice or, if you prefer, add a side of lettuce, long beans, cucumber, and carrots, or you can eat it with a bowl of jasmine rice on the side.
