Description
This Lamb Larb is made by cooking ground lamb and tossing into a bowl of cucumber, scallions, cilantro, mint, and Thai basil.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ¼ diced red onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped lemongrass
- 3 garlic cloves, rough chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped thai chili
- 1 tablespoon cilantro stems, chopped
- 1 pound ground lamb
- ¼ sliced red onion, sitting in cold water
- 2 cups cucumber
- 3 scallions, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves
- 1/2 cup chopped mint
- 1/2 cup chopped Thai basil (or regular basil)
- Sauce
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 4–5 tablespoons lime juice
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the fish sauce, lime juice, and salt. Add the sliced onion in cold water. This will take the bitter taste away.
- In a large skillet on medium-high heat, add oil and wait for it to shimmer. Add the diced red onion, garlic, Thai chili, lemongrass, and cilantro stems and cook until the garlic is onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Add the ground lamb and cook all the way through, about 12-15 minutes, stirring frequently and breaking the ground lamb apart with a wooden spoon.
- Strain the sliced red onion. In a large bowl, add the ground lamb mixture, cucumber, scallions, cilantro leaves, mint, and Thai basil. Pour the fish sauce mixture over everything. Toss the salad to combine.
Notes
- Use fresh herbs and ingredients: Fresh herbs like mint, cilantro, and Thai basil, as well as fresh shallots, lemongrass, and chili peppers, will give your lamb larb a bright and aromatic flavor.
- Adjust the seasoning to your taste: Taste the lamb larb mixture as you go and adjust the seasoning to your liking. Add more lime juice for acidity, fish sauce for saltiness, sugar for sweetness, or chili peppers for heat.
- Serve with lettuce leaves and fresh herbs: Arrange the lamb larb on a platter with lettuce leaves and fresh herbs like cilantro, mint, and Thai basil. The lettuce leaves make a great vessel for scooping up the meat mixture, and the herbs add freshness and flavor.
- Pair with sticky rice and cucumber slices: Serve the lamb larb with sticky rice and sliced cucumber for a balanced and satisfying meal.
- Let the lamb rest: Allow the cooked lamb to rest for a few minutes before adding it to the herb and spice mixture. This will help the meat absorb the flavors and prevent it from becoming too dry.
- Don't overcook the lamb: Ground lamb cooks quickly, so be careful not to overcook it. Cook it until it is browned and cooked through, but still juicy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Thai
