Authentic Laab Moo (Isaan-Style Thai Pork Larb)
Laab Moo is a classic Isaan Thai meat salad made with ground pork, fresh herbs, lime juice, fish sauce, and toasted rice powder. This spicy pork salad is bold, savory, and aromatic, with nutty flavors and bright acidity, meant to be eaten with sticky rice and shared as part of a family-style meal.
- Prep time
- 10 min
- Cook time
- 10 min
- Yield
- 2 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1/3 cup water (use up to 1/2 cup if you prefer it more saucy)
- 1/3 cup sliced shallots
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1.5 tablespoons fermented fish sauce (pla ra) (optional)
- 2-2.5 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 stalks green onion, sliced
- 2 to 3 tablespoons toasted rice powder (khao khua).
- 1 tablespoon, dried chilies flakes (Adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon MSG (optional) or substitute sugar, to taste
- 1/3 cup culantro (sawtooth coriander), chopped
- 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
Instructions
- 1
. Add the ground pork and water to a pot over medium heat. Stir gently, breaking up the ground meat until just cooked through. The goal is tender meat, not browning. Let it cool while prepping the other ingredients.
- 2
. Transfer the pork to a mixing bowl while still warm. (or use the same pot your used to cook the meat- less dishes!). Add shallots, green onions, culantro, and chilies so the heat releases their aroma.
- 3
. Add fish sauce, Pla Ra, MSG, lime juice, chili flakes, and toasted rice powder. Mix gently until the meat mixture is evenly coated and fragrant.
- 4
. Add mint leaves last then balance the salad with more lime, fish sauce, or rice powder as needed. The final dish should be bright, savory, and full of bold flavors.