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Thai Chicken Larb Salad (Larb Gai)

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Last updated on March 8th, 2019 at 01:38 am

Thai Larb Salad – This Larb recipe is made with ground chicken, lime juice and fresh herbs. This flavorful and healthy salad is easy to make and full of authentic Thai flavors!

view of a white bowl filled with Larb Salad. With Romaine lettuce, Butter Lettuce, shredded carrots and sliced cucumbers.

 

Larb is one of my favorite salad recipes to order at any Thai restaurant. Larb is a fresh, light, and delicious Thai salad full of complex and well balanced flavors. Lime juice, fish sauce, garlic, shallots, onions, chiles, fresh cilantro and mint give this ground chicken recipe lots of flavor.

Ingredients to make Thai Larb Salad on a wooden counter.

 

Thai recipes are very easy to make. You can enjoy a fabulous homemade Thai meal without having  to drive to your nearest Thai restaurant. Check out my  Easy Tom Yum Soup (Thai Hot and Sour Soup). It comes together in very little time and it is so delicious! If you love a good Thai curry packed full of vegetables, my Thai Red Curry Chicken with Vegetables is amazing!

What is Larb

Larb Gai (also spelt Laab Gai, Laap Gai, Lahb or Larp) is a type of mince meat Thai salad seasoned with lime juice and other seasonings like fish sauce and fresh herbs. It is the “unofficial National dish of Laos” and very popular in Thailand. It can be made with ground pork, beef, duck and even fish.

 

A white bowl of Thai Chicken Larb Salad surrounded with lettuce leaves, shredded carrots, sliced cucumbers and lime slices.

 

How To Make Larb

To make this Larb recipe even simpler, I don’t add rice powder to thicken the sauce. I decided to leave it out because it was one less step in the process and the flavor is still the same. If you want to add it, please check below or on the recipe notes where I show you how to make roasted rice powder at home.

  • First, mix the sauce ingredients. Lime juice, fish sauce and sugar. Set aside.
  • In a little bit of oil stir fry the chiles, shallots and garlic. 
  • Add the meat and stir fry until cooked through.
  • Remove the mixture from the heat and add the scallions, onions and the sauce. Toss to combine.
  • Add the herbs (if using, rice powder would be added at this time) and toss. Serve!

How To Serve Larb 

  • You can serve this tasty Thai salad as an appetizer over lettuce leaves (Thai lettuce wraps anyone?). It is also delicious served over crispy wonton wrappers.
  • I like to serve this fresh and easy salad over lettuce leaves, with sliced cucumbers and shredded carrots.
  • Ground meat recipes are amazing as they cook fast. If you are short on time, but need a filling main dish, serve this ground chicken recipe over steamed white rice.

 

Top view of a white bowl filled with Larb Salad. With Romaine lettuce, Butter Lettuce, shredded carrots and sliced cucumbers.

 

How To Make Rice Powder

Roast 1/2 cup of white rice in a dry pan over medium-high heat, stirring often until the rice is fragrant and medium brown in color. Place the rice in a food processor or blender and grind until a coarse powder is formed.

Tips and Notes 

  • Chopped fresh herbs and lime wedges are a must when serving this salad.
  • If you cannot find Thai chiles, you can use serranos or jalapenos. Thai chili powder can also be used but be aware of the heat!
  • You can make this easy salad with ground pork, ground turkey or ground beef.
  • If you enjoy tasty Asian dishes here are a few favorites: 
    Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce
    Coconut Curry Soup with Shrimp
    Beef with Broccoli

 

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A white bowl of Thai Chicken Larb Salad surrounded with lettuce leaves, shredded carrots, sliced cucumbers and lime slices.
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5 from 3 votes

Thai Chicken Larb Salad

Thai Larb Salad - This Larb recipe is made with ground chicken, lime juice and fresh herbs. This flavorful and healthy salad is easy to make and full of authentic Thai flavors!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time15 mins
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Asian, Thai
Keyword: Larb, Larb Gai
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 236kcal
Author: Kathy McDaniel

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup fish sauce
  • 6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 Thai chili or serrano chili, thinly sliced (more or less to your taste) or 1/2 teaspoon Thai chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable, canola or coconut oil
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, ninced
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken
  • 2 scallions (green onions), thinly sliced
  • 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped

To Serve

  • Lettuce leaves
  • Carrot sticks
  • Cucumber slices
  • Fresh mint and fresh cilantro leaves (optional)

If you would like to add rice powder to this recipe please read the notes.

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl mix together the fish sauce, lime juice and sugar. Mix until well combined.
    • Heat a wok or medium size skillet over high heat. Add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the chilies, shallots and garlic and cook for about 1 minute or until the shallots become translucent.
    • Add the ground chicken and cook for about 4 - 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink.
    • Remove from the heat and add the scallions, onions and the sauce mixture. Toss to combine. Add the cilantro and mint and toss to combine.
    • Serve with lettuce leaves, carrots sticks, cucumber slices and more fresh herbs (optional).

    Notes

    If you want to add rice powder to this recipe, add the powder at the same time you add the fresh herbs.
    To Make Rice Powder:
    Roast 1/2 cup of white rice in a dry pan over medium-high heat, stirring often until the rice is fragrant and medium brown in color. Place the rice in a food processor or blender and grind until a coarse powder is formed.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 832mg | Potassium: 703mg | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Vitamin C: 7.9mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1.3mg

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    Check out these amazing Winter Games Recipes from some of my blogger friends!

    China – Cashew Chicken
    Germany –Pork & Sauerkraut Cabbage Rolls
    Greece – Greek Style Grilled Lamb Chops
    Italy –Fettuccini Alfredo
    Italy – Wild Mushroom Risotto
    Korea – Oven Baked Korean BBQ Chicken Wings
    Sweden –Easy Swedish Cucumber Salad
    USA – Instant Pot Bourbon BBQ Ribs

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amy Nash says

      This looks so delicious and is taking me right back to our trip to Thailand two years ago! I really adore boldly flavored minced meat dishes like this.

      Reply

    3. Jessica says

      I made this recipe and it was so good. So light and refreshing. Better than at my local Thai restaurant for sure.

      Reply

      • Kathy says

        Hi, unfortunately the sugar balances the Thai flavors. I know you are not allowed any sweeteners during whole 30 but perhaps just a tablespoon of honey or agave could do the trick. This salad serves 6 so if you think about it you won’t be consuming that much of it anyway. Just a thought!

        Reply

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