Laab Moo

Laab Moo (or larb moo) is a northern Thai dish. I used to order this whenever I see it on the menu. It's minced pork salad - this dish can also be done with beef (laab neua) or chicken (laab gai). There is a restaurant in Bangkok (I can't remember the name) which specialises in dishes from that region & even does this with gizzard & liver. So good.

I've tried making it several times based on what I remember this dish to be but never managed to get it right. Can't be that difficult right ? Wrong. Somehow something was missing. I finally came across a recipe with that one important ingredient - roasted rice. It is what makes this dish. You'd be surprised at how many Laab Moo recipes out there that do not have roasted rice.

Laab Moo

300 g minced pork
2 Tbsp rice
1 lime
1/2 tsp sugar
2 Tbsp fish sauce
2 Tbsp dried chilli pepper
1/2 onion, chopped
mint & shallots for garnish

1. Dry roast rice. Then grind
2. Dry roast chilli pepper. Then grind
3. Fry the meat
4. When the meat is half done, add rice, chilli pepper & onions
5. Remove when the meat is cooked
6. Toss the meat with lime juice, fish sauce & sugar
7. Garnish with sliced shallots & mint
8. Serve over a bed of lettuce


Note : I don't have lemongrass but you can also add a handful of chopped lemon grass to fry together with the meat.