Larb is one of my favorite summer foods. Light and tangy, this chicken is great on its own or served as part of a rice or noodle bowl.
Larb is a minced meat salad from Thailand. Flavored with lime juice, fish sauce, chile and a touch of sugar, it has that whole spicy sweet and sour thing going on!
Topped with peanuts, it is the perfect filling for lettuce wraps or the star when placed on a bed of greens or rice. You will love it!
I know this ground chicken larb isn't an easy sell when it comes to its name. Really Hollywood does a much better job promoting second rate actors.
But after one bite, you will love me. I promise. This is a great dish. Now if one could just think of a better way to promote it.
A minced meat salad, often thought to be from Thailand; it is actually the national dish of Laos. Frankly, I don't care where it's from, as long as I can eat it.
This is a great summer dish and so easily prepared. It is perfect to keep in your fridge for something healthy and easily snacked on. I even caught someone spooning it onto a tortilla chip!
Dice up a few mangoes or cucumbers for a side salad, and one has a perfect meal on a hot summer's day!
Feel free to use any ground meat in this dish. You could use already ground chicken, beef, pork or turkey if you want to skip the food processor, but I like grinding the chicken with all the spices in the food processor. Easy and quick!
This dish has lots of salty tanginess and frankly, makes the best lettuce wrap I've had in awhile.
Larb often contains toasted rice in the dressing. To me that is just one more step, and truthfully I didn't feel it was necessary.
Want more herbs? Besides cilantro, mint is also good as are scallions or thinly sliced onions.
This larb recipe tasted great straight out of a container that sat in the fridge for a few days. Nothing was lost in translation!
Add a squirt of sriracha and a few ground peanuts, and you may not need air conditioning any more!
A Few More:
Goi Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Salad)
Poached Chicken with Pineapple Salad
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Other great Asian dishes:
Recipe
Larb, Thai Chicken Salad
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 10 Minutes
- Total Time: 20 Minutes
- Yield: 4 - 6 Servings 1x
- Category: Salads
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Thai
Description
Larb is an amazing ground chicken salad with lime juice, lemongrass, and chiles. Topped with peanuts and cilantro, this is one salad I can't get enough of!
Ingredients
Dressing:
⅓ cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons (packed) light brown sugar
- 1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 shallot, coarsely chopped
- 2 tablespoons lemongrass paste
- Zest from one lime
- 1 small red Thai chile, thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 8 small iceberg lettuce or hearts of romaine leaves
- ¼ cup chopped peanuts
- Sriracha, to taste
- Cilantro leaves and stems, roughly torn
Instructions
Chef Mimi says
Just printed this! I Cannot wait to make it.
Abbe says
Enjoy it Mimi. I love having this in the fridge all summer long!
Juliana says
Like how you marinated the chicken...sounds delicious with all the Thai inspired ingredients...great for the hot days...thanks for reposting it.
Have a wonderful week ahead Abbe!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Your delicious larb salad needs a 10 star rating but the max it shows me is only 3... all of our favourites in one delicious dish. Hoping your weekend is going well. Take care
Balvinder says
Its one of my favorite too. I wonder why I haven't posted this yet. Yours look really delcious.
John / Kitchen Riffs says
Yeah, the name does leave a bit to be desired, but this dish definitely deserves top billing. Star stuff, this. 🙂
Thai Lady says
making laap, you shouldn't have to use more sugar since fish sauce already has it in there. Most thais making this at home will not add sugar.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks for the comment. What I have found here is that there is a huge variety of fish sauces out there. Some are Vietnamese and some are Thai and some are other. It depends what you have on hand. They all taste a bit different from each other so I suppose it is what you like. By all means though, feel free to leave it out and thanks for reading!
Anna and Liz Recipes says
Never heard of larb before but it sounds really good, and would love to try this dish very soon! Thanks Abbe!
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
I love Asian food. I am not sure I have had a dish quite like this. But I sure want to! I pinned it.
Shirley Tay says
Abbe, love those healthy colours! So sorry to hear that your mom is a prediabetic. Are you using any stevia products? I'm giving away 4 sets of NuNaturals products & I'm sure these are useful for your mom & your baking/cooking. Try your luck, you'll may walk away with an entire set!
I'm also following you now at GFC, & would love to have you follow me too 🙂
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
never made larb before.. i definitely need to give this recipe a go. looks delicious and the flavours sound incredible.
Joyti says
I've seen larb on Thai menus, but being vegetarian, never had it. Your egg version sounds delicious. I'm sure you mom will love it 🙂
Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
I LOVE larb, but you are so hilariously right about what a terrible name that is! Really - I don't think even Brad and Angelina can salvage this one! One taste is all it takes, though - something this delicious can sell itself (even with a crummy name! 😀 ). Definitely pinning this yumminess ... and wishing it was my dinner!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
Larb is a new word that I will now add to my vocabulary due to this post!
Sugar et al says
Sorry to hear about your Mom's prediabetes. I cannot imagine life without sugar and flour for myself so I can imagine how hard it must be to have a complete change of diet. Love the dish you are making. What gorgeous flavours!
Joanne says
I haven't had larb since going veg, but I can tell your version is quite tasty!
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) says
I've been through this so many times; moving mom from the farm to an apartment, then to assisted living; then to Nursing home. It's a big job! And in the Arizona heat? yikes. Hats off to you. This meal looks delicious, but there's nothing like a piece of toast in the morning plus the kitchen smells so good as it toasts.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I love larb salad! I did scratch my head a bit about your mother's diet. Even the low GI diabetic diet allows some grains. I think she needs to talk to a dietician. 🙂
Guru Uru says
Haha I think larb sounds super funny so I would try it because of that - and because your dish looks fantastic 😀
Wow stay hydrated, sounds like a lot of work in the heat!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Holly @ abakershouse.com says
I am sold on larb-- any meal that tastes just as good, if not better, after a day or so in the fridge is one for me. I tend to make meals that last me for a few days and this fits the bill perfectly.
Ansh says
When I first heard of Larb I just did a double take. Why would anyone have something called Larb on the menu. But you are right. One bite and you are hooked.
Sorry to hear about your mom's pre diabetes. But I think you should check with her dietician as to why she can't have wholesome grains.
Libby Weiner says
Chicken larb is right up my alley. I love Asian food. Will you make it for me this weekend? Love, Mom
Sharon D says
This is way too yummy not to try. I've got this recipe saved ...and I really love the bowl, Abbe. It's beautiful!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
You've sold me Abbe - it sounds pretty amazing and especially since it is a Thai recipe - love the stuff! Your mom is a very lucky lady. So happy you are able to help her and hope you get air conditioning again soon. I hear it has been hot out there. Have a great weekend!
Biz says
Since my husband is on low sodium, I was going to add some fish sauce to our potstickers earlier this week - holy sodium! I think one teaspoon was 1300 mg?
Hmm. I am not sure why your Mom can't have toast because she's prediabetic. Basically she just has to eat a protein with the carb so that she doesn't spike her blood sugar.
So she could have 1/2 a bagel if it had an egg and cheese on it - or a schmear of cream cheese. She just shouldn't eat all carbs, like a bagel with butter, or some pasta with butter.
Abbe Odenwalder says
I believe that about fish sauce. She went to a dietician and I think I am going to call to see what the rationale is. And I am going to get her to start reading your blog!
Kitchen Riffs says
Cleaning out a garage in a hot Phoenix summer? You are a trooper! Since you're up to speed on this cleaning out thing, we've got a basement you could tackle. In case you need additional amusement. 😉 Anyway, great dish! I've had it, but for some reason have never made it. Need to add it to that long list of things I'll make someday. I hope. 😉 Good post -- thanks.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Jeez! I still have my own basement to tackle! Make this John. It doesn't disappoint!
Liz Berg says
Yeah, "larb" doesn't sound nearly as appetizing as it looks! Glad you're making some progress at your parents' home. I can totally relate. The closing on my parents' house is today...bittersweet as it was where we all grew up!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Oh Liz, that's difficult! I remember when my parents sold the house I grew up in. I felt like I didn't have place to go. Good thoughts, I'm sending your way!
Angie Schneider says
No grain, no bread...that's going to be hard for your mom..and it takes time to adjust to new diet. Your ground chicken larb looks very delicious, Abbe. It reminds me of my favourite lettuce wraps.
Abbe Odenwalder says
It does take time, but hopefully she will be able to add it back! In the meantime, I think these lettuce wraps might help!