Is larb always made with cooked meat?
No. Some kinds use raw meat. The Tourism Authority of Thailand advises ordering larb made with cooked meat, so say so when you order.
Larb
Larb / Laab · ลาบ
If you want a meat dish to eat with sticky rice, try Isan-style larb. It is minced meat seasoned with herbs, lime and toasted rice powder. The savoury meat gets sourness and a nutty aroma, and it goes well with vegetables. Some menus use raw meat, so when you order, ask whether it is larb made with cooked meat.
Lap pet · Takeaway · CC BY-SA 3.0
Resized for display · Photo used under CC BY-SA 3.0
What does it taste like?
The sourness of lime and the aroma of herbs are joined by the richness of toasted rice powder. The seasoning is mixed evenly through the minced meat, so it is good to have a little at a time with sticky rice. The flavour also changes with the meat, whether pork, beef or duck.
Some kinds use raw meat. Order larb made with cooked meat.
The basics
- Dish
- Larb · Larb / Laab
- Thai name
- ลาบ
- Type
- Sides and grills
- Region
- North-east · Isan · A meat salad of Isan
- Main ingredients
- Minced meat seasoned with toasted rice powder, herbs and lime. The type of meat varies: pork, beef, duck and others.
The dish and where it comes from
Larb is a meat salad you meet at an Isan table. There is larb in the north too, but the seasoning and the way it is made are not the same. The dish introduced here is Isan-style larb, with toasted rice powder, lime and herbs added.
How to order and eat it
- Choose the meat you want and order it as a cooked dish. There is also larb made with raw meat.
- If you would like it less spicy, say so before it is made.
- Have sticky rice and vegetables with it. Share the larb a little at a time and enjoy the flavour of the meat and herbs.
Frequently asked questions
Does northern larb taste the same?
The seasoning and method differ. Here we introduce Isan-style larb, which uses toasted rice powder, lime and herbs. Even if you see the same name in the north, it can seem like a different dish.
More dishes and cities to explore
Official sources and references
If you would like to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are worth a look. Ingredients and cooking methods can vary from one cook to the next.
View official sources · 1
Sharing image credit: Takeaway · CC BY-SA 3.0