Laap (Lao Minced Pork Salad)
Local name: ລາບ
In short: Warm minced pork tossed with lime, fish sauce, toasted rice powder, chili, shallots and a big handful of fresh mint and coriander. It takes about 40 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 340 kcal
Laap is the dish most Lao people name as their national dish, served at birthdays, weddings, New Year and any gathering with sticky rice. Minced meat is cooked briefly, then dressed with lime juice, fish sauce, chili and toasted sticky rice powder, and finished with a mountain of fresh herbs. It is sour, salty, hot and nutty all at once. Eat it with sticky rice and raw vegetables such as cabbage, long beans and cucumber to cool the heat.
Instructions
- Toast the raw sticky rice in a dry pan over medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring, until deep golden and fragrant. Grind it to a coarse powder in a mortar or spice grinder.
- Put the pork and water in a wide pan over medium heat. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking up the meat, until no pink remains and it reaches 71°C (160°F). It should be moist and pale, not browned.
- Take the pan off the heat and let the pork cool for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the fish sauce, lime juice, chili flakes and 2 tablespoons of the toasted rice powder. Taste: it should be salty, sour, hot and nutty.
- Add the shallots, spring onions, lemongrass and lime leaves and toss through.
- Fold in the mint and coriander last so they stay bright. Add more rice powder if the mixture looks wet.
- Serve warm or at room temperature with sticky rice and raw vegetables.
Tips
- Some Lao cooks serve laap with raw or rare meat or fish. This recipe cooks the meat fully for safety. Chicken, duck, beef and firm fish also work, cooked until done through.
- Toasted rice powder (khao khua) gives laap its aroma, so make it fresh. Ready-made powder is sold at Asian grocery stores, but check that it smells nutty.
Questions and answers
What is khao khua?
Khao khua is sticky rice toasted until golden and ground to a powder. It gives laap a nutty aroma and a slight thickness, and it soaks up the dressing.
Can I make laap vegetarian?
Yes. Use finely chopped mushrooms or crumbled firm tofu, and replace the fish sauce with soy sauce. Fry the mushrooms dry first so they do not release too much water.
How spicy is laap?
It is as hot as you choose. Start with 1 teaspoon of chili flakes for a medium heat, and serve extra chili on the side.
How long does it take to make Laap (Lao Minced Pork Salad)?
About 40 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Laap (Lao Minced Pork Salad)?
About 340 kcal per serving, with 26 g of protein, 10 g of carbohydrates and 22 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 340 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 26 g |
| Carbohydrates | 10 g |
| Fat | 22 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 1300 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
