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 are looking for a meat dish to eat with sticky rice, try Isan-style larb. Minced meat is seasoned with herbs, lime and toasted rice powder. The sour taste and nutty aroma added to the meat go well with vegetables. Some menus use raw meat, so when you order, ask whether the larb is made with cooked meat.
Lap pet · Takeaway · CC BY-SA 3.0
Resized for display · Photo provided under CC BY-SA 3.0
What does it taste like?
The sour taste of lime and the herb aroma are joined by the nutty flavor of toasted rice powder. The seasoning is mixed evenly through the minced meat, so it is good to eat a little at a time with sticky rice. The taste also changes with the meat used, such as pork, beef or duck.
Some kinds use raw meat. Please order larb made with cooked meat.
Dish basics
- Dish name
- Larb · Larb / Laab
- Thai name
- ลาบ
- Type
- Sides and grilled dishes
- Regional link
- Northeastern Thailand · Isan · Isan meat salad
- Main ingredients
- Minced meat is seasoned with toasted rice powder, herbs, lime and more. The kind of meat varies, such as pork, beef or duck.
The dish and its region
Larb is a meat salad you meet on the Isan table. There is larb in the north too, but the seasoning and cooking method are not the same. The dish introduced here is Isan-style larb, which adds toasted rice powder, lime and herbs.
How to order and eat it
- Choose the meat you want and order the version that is made with cooked meat. Some larb uses raw meat.
- If you want less heat, say so before the dish is made.
- Add sticky rice and vegetables. Share the larb a little at a time and enjoy the taste of the meat and herbs.
Frequently asked questions
Does northern larb taste the same?
The seasoning and the cooking method are different. Here we introduce Isan-style larb, which uses toasted rice powder, lime and herbs. Even when you see the same name in the north, it can feel like a different dish.
More dishes and cities to explore
Official sources
If you want to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are a good next step. Ingredients and cooking methods can differ from one place to the next.
View official sources · 1
Sharing image credit: Takeaway · CC BY-SA 3.0