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Larb
Larb (Lao: ລາບ; Thai: ลาบ, RTGS: lap, pronounced [lâːp]), also spelled laab, laap, larp, or lahb, is a minced meat salad in Lao cuisine. Known for its bold and harmonious flavors, it is often accompanied by sticky rice and green papaya salad.
Larb features minced meat, often pork, chicken, beef, duck, or fish, seasoned with lime juice, fish sauce, roasted ground rice, and fresh herbs like mint, with chili often added for heat.
Larb originated in Laos and is integral to Lao cultural and celebratory meals. It has influenced the cuisines of neighboring regions, particularly northeastern and northern Thailand (Isan and Lanna), which share historical ties with the former Lan Xang Kingdom. Variants of larb also appear in the cuisines of other Tai-speaking peoples, such as those in Shan State, Myanmar, and Yunnan Province, China. Despite regional adaptations, larb's roots remain distinctly Lao.
Commissioned by the Chinese Qianlong emperor in 1751, the Qing Imperial Illustrations of Tributary Peoples describes the Lao people as the following: "The Laowo (Lao) are customarily called Wojia [...] They like to eat raw meat."
Étienne François Aymonier, who visited Laos in 1883, described laab as a favorite dish of Lao people – a mixture of chopped onions or scallions, lemongrass leaves, fermented fish and chili mixed with fresh and boiled fish. The dish was eaten with steam-cooked sticky rice. Another French visitor, Doctor Estrade, who arrived in 1893, described larb as a Lao main dish made with boiled fish, chili and ground roasted sticky rice.
Depending on the method of preparation, it may be known by different names, including nam tok, goi/saa, yum/sua, and can be made with beef, buffalo, chicken, duck, fish, pork, shrimp, game meat, mushroom or even algae. Laab can be served raw, which is known as laab diip (raw) or aharn suer (tiger food), or cooked, and usually served with a soup made with the bones of the meat being used.
Historically, laab dishes were more common amongst the aristocracy and traditional recipes for laab served to Laotian royalty are in a collection of handwritten recipes from Phia Sing (1898–1967), royal chef and master of ceremonies. Laab is considered to be an auspicious and lucky dish because traditionally meat was not readily available, and most Laotians would normally eat laab at special occasions, such as wedding, New Year celebrations and festivals. Many Laotians will bless their family and guests with a meal consisting of laab for luck and good fortune. During the New Year celebration, many Lao families believe that eating laab on day one of the three-day celebration will bring good fortune for the rest of the year.
Prior to the collapse of the monarchy, in Laotian high society, servants were never allowed to prepare the best and most delicate dishes. The women of Laotian high society considered it an honorable task and great opportunity to display their culinary talents to prepare laab for their esteemed guests. Among ordinary Laotians, when preparing laab, housewives would prepare the ingredients in separate containers as a mise en place, leaving the final honor of mixing all the ingredients in a large bowl to the head of the household. As tradition goes, the head of the family would start with malaxating the mincemeat – softening and incorporating it with a cupful of stock from the soup, then adding the toasted ground rice, pepper powder, garlic, salt, padaek sauce and finally chopped aromatics before serving.
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Larb
Larb (Lao: ລາບ; Thai: ลาบ, RTGS: lap, pronounced [lâːp]), also spelled laab, laap, larp, or lahb, is a minced meat salad in Lao cuisine. Known for its bold and harmonious flavors, it is often accompanied by sticky rice and green papaya salad.
Larb features minced meat, often pork, chicken, beef, duck, or fish, seasoned with lime juice, fish sauce, roasted ground rice, and fresh herbs like mint, with chili often added for heat.
Larb originated in Laos and is integral to Lao cultural and celebratory meals. It has influenced the cuisines of neighboring regions, particularly northeastern and northern Thailand (Isan and Lanna), which share historical ties with the former Lan Xang Kingdom. Variants of larb also appear in the cuisines of other Tai-speaking peoples, such as those in Shan State, Myanmar, and Yunnan Province, China. Despite regional adaptations, larb's roots remain distinctly Lao.
Commissioned by the Chinese Qianlong emperor in 1751, the Qing Imperial Illustrations of Tributary Peoples describes the Lao people as the following: "The Laowo (Lao) are customarily called Wojia [...] They like to eat raw meat."
Étienne François Aymonier, who visited Laos in 1883, described laab as a favorite dish of Lao people – a mixture of chopped onions or scallions, lemongrass leaves, fermented fish and chili mixed with fresh and boiled fish. The dish was eaten with steam-cooked sticky rice. Another French visitor, Doctor Estrade, who arrived in 1893, described larb as a Lao main dish made with boiled fish, chili and ground roasted sticky rice.
Depending on the method of preparation, it may be known by different names, including nam tok, goi/saa, yum/sua, and can be made with beef, buffalo, chicken, duck, fish, pork, shrimp, game meat, mushroom or even algae. Laab can be served raw, which is known as laab diip (raw) or aharn suer (tiger food), or cooked, and usually served with a soup made with the bones of the meat being used.
Historically, laab dishes were more common amongst the aristocracy and traditional recipes for laab served to Laotian royalty are in a collection of handwritten recipes from Phia Sing (1898–1967), royal chef and master of ceremonies. Laab is considered to be an auspicious and lucky dish because traditionally meat was not readily available, and most Laotians would normally eat laab at special occasions, such as wedding, New Year celebrations and festivals. Many Laotians will bless their family and guests with a meal consisting of laab for luck and good fortune. During the New Year celebration, many Lao families believe that eating laab on day one of the three-day celebration will bring good fortune for the rest of the year.
Prior to the collapse of the monarchy, in Laotian high society, servants were never allowed to prepare the best and most delicate dishes. The women of Laotian high society considered it an honorable task and great opportunity to display their culinary talents to prepare laab for their esteemed guests. Among ordinary Laotians, when preparing laab, housewives would prepare the ingredients in separate containers as a mise en place, leaving the final honor of mixing all the ingredients in a large bowl to the head of the household. As tradition goes, the head of the family would start with malaxating the mincemeat – softening and incorporating it with a cupful of stock from the soup, then adding the toasted ground rice, pepper powder, garlic, salt, padaek sauce and finally chopped aromatics before serving.