Illustration of Pork larb lettuce cups

Pork larb lettuce cups

Pork mince cooked with lime, fish sauce and chilli, tossed with fresh mint and coriander and spooned into crisp lettuce cups. Fresh, sharp and light.

15min
Prep
8 min
Cook
7 min
Serves
2
Per serve
430 kcal

ThaiGluten-freeDairy-free

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Ingredients

2 serves

Method

  1. If using, toast the rice in a dry frying pan over medium heat, shaking often, until deep golden. Tip into a mortar and pound to a coarse powder, or crush in a zip-lock bag with a rolling pin.

  2. Add the oil to the same pan and turn the heat to high. Add the pork and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no pink remains and some bits are starting to brown.

  3. While the pork cooks, separate and rinse the lettuce leaves, slice the cucumber, and mix the fish sauce, lime juice and sugar in a small bowl.

  4. Take the pan off the heat. Stir in the shallots, chilli and dressing. Let it sit for a minute so the pork soaks up the dressing.

  5. Toss through the mint, coriander, spring onion and most of the rice powder. Taste: it should be salty, sour and hot in equal measure.

  6. Spoon into the lettuce leaves, sprinkle with the remaining rice powder, and serve with cucumber and lime wedges.

Tips

  • The toasted rice powder (khao khua) adds a nutty crunch that makes larb taste like larb. It's worth the 3 minutes.
  • Chicken or turkey mince works just as well. Add a little more oil as they're leaner.
  • Serve with sticky or jasmine rice to make it more filling.