Minced Pork Salad (Laab Moo)

Thai Translation – Laab = Minced Meat Salad, Moo = Pork

Laab is a very tasty, and healthy salad that is quick and easy to make. It is common in northern Thailand and Laos with variations on the ingredients depending on the region. You can make laab it with any kind of minced meat, including fish and tofu and it can be made as spicy or as mild as you like. It is traditionally served with sticky rice which you form into a ball in your hand and flatten before scooping up some of the meat.

Cooking Time – 5 minutes

Preparation Time 10 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients

250g pork mince

½ cup coriander leaves

1/3 cup mint

2 shallots

½ red onion

1tsp – 1Tbsp dried chilli flakes (depending on your own taste preference)

½ lime

2 tsp fish sauce

1/3 cup water

1/3 cup rice

Snake beans to garnish

Method

1. Heat a wok over medium heat and add the uncooked rice to the pan. Roast the rice for 2-3 minutes until the rice changes colour. Remove from heat.
2. In the same wok, add the chilli flakes and roast for a few minutes to draw the chilli oil out of the flakes. Be careful not to burn as you may inhale very pungent smoke that will make you cough. Remove from heat and set aside.
3. Using a mortar and pestle, roughly break the rice into smaller pieces, but not quite a powder. If you do not have a mortar and pestle, you can break the rice using the end of a rolling pin.
4. In the wok over medium to high heat, boil the water and then add the pork. Cook the pork until brown, adding some water if the meat begins to stick to the pan.
5. Roughly chop the mint and coriander, slice the red onion and shallots and place all chopped ingredients in a bowl, stirring well to combine.
6. Combine the cooked mince, rice and chilli stirring well to combine. Add this to the bowl with the herbs and add fish sauce and juice from ½ a lime. Mix well.
7. Serve with a side of snake beans and cucumber.