Larb
A herb-packed meat salad
Think of it as: Like taco meat that swapped the spices for lime, mint and toasted rice
It's meat, but it's a salad. Herbs everywhere.
What does it taste like?
Lime tang, salty fish sauce and chili heat, with toasted rice powder and fresh herbs.
SweetSpicySourSaltyFunkSmellTextureCrumbly
What is it?
Ground meat tossed with lime, fish sauce, toasted rice powder and herbs. It's the national dish of Laos, and since its name sounds like the word for luck, it's served at celebrations too.Source: Wikipedia
How locals eat it
Roll sticky rice (khao niao) into balls by hand and eat it with the larb, along with raw vegetables.
Watch it
JapaneseTap to play (YouTube)This video is not in English. YouTube auto-translated captions can help.
More videos on YouTubeWhere is it from?
🇱🇦Laos
CapitalVientiane
Populationabout 7.9 millionestimate (unverified)
IndustriesHydropower (electricity exports), Mining, Farming, Tourism
Famous peopleFa NgumThe king who founded the Lan Xang kingdom
HelloSabaidee (Lao)
CurrencyKip
Fun factThe only landlocked country in Southeast Asia.
The flag🇱🇦 Red is the blood shed for independence, blue is the Mekong River and prosperity, and the white circle is the full moon, standing for national unity.
From Tokyoabout 4,140 kmstraight line, Tokyo to Vientiane
Getting thereabout 10 hours from Tokyo (with transfers)rough guide
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeNovember to February, the cool dry season, is best. Also tryKhao niao (sticky rice)Tam mak hoongKhao piak
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeNovember to February, the cool dry season, is best. Also tryKhao niao (sticky rice)Tam mak hoongKhao piak
🇱🇦 Sounds & life in Laos
ສະບາຍດີHello（Sabaidee (Lao)）
Lao script
Lao script
Right now…
Anthem"Lao National Anthem" (Pheng Xat Lao)
MusicMor lam Storytelling songs sung to the khaen, a bamboo mouth organ
SportSoccer World HeritageTown of Luang Prabang and more National animalElephant National flowerChampa (plumeria) FestivalPi Mai Lao (mid-April, Lao New Year water festival)
MusicMor lam Storytelling songs sung to the khaen, a bamboo mouth organ
SportSoccer World HeritageTown of Luang Prabang and more National animalElephant National flowerChampa (plumeria) FestivalPi Mai Lao (mid-April, Lao New Year water festival)
Ingredients
- Ground pork 200 g
- Lime juice 2 tbsp
- Fish sauce 1 tbsp
- Toasted rice powder (khao khua) 1 tbsp
- Red onion 1/4
- Mint and cilantro, to taste
- Chili flakes, a little
Can't find it? Make toasted rice powder by toasting raw rice in a pan and grinding it.
How to make it (one way)
- Toast raw rice in a pan until brown, then grind it
- Cook the ground meat with a splash of water
- Turn off the heat and season with lime juice, fish sauce and chili
- Mix in the red onion and toasted rice powder
- Toss in lots of mint and cilantro