Thai Larb Gai (Chicken With Lime, Chili and Fresh Herbs) Recipe (2024)

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PSP

We love larb gai and I've always wanted to try it at home. I made a double recipe (3 teenage boys) and this was a successful starting point but needs tweaking.

We felt it needed at LEAST 3 times as much lime juice in order to taste the limey twang. We also felt the cilantro, scallions and especially the onions should be at least doubled per recipe.

I used brown jasmine rice for the powder and it was great but easy to burn if careless. I also added 2 finely chopped thai chilis for some kick.

Andrea

Made to the recipe's specifications, this seriously lacked flavor. I doubled the fish sauce, lime juice, chili power, and cilantro, and it was greatly improved. With those modifications, this is a great summer meal.

Todd Komoroski

Adding Basil, seasoning the oil with ginger, garlic and chilies is also a good idea. This is a great base recipe to build upon. Also endive is a great addition... the prefect sized boats for the larb!

Steve H.

I've never had larb made from chicken... and frankly ground chicken gives me the creeps (3 years on a chicken farm may explain this revulsion). However! I made this recipe using ground lamb as a Thai girlfriend taught me (she said it was the rich person's Larb) & it was fabulous. The best I've ever made. Lamb and mint are like wine and cheese; two sensations that when paired change the nature of both for the better. I also recommend sub'ing chili powder with a big scoop of Thai chile-garlic

Bac Kow

You’re eye site may need checked. That is not Thomahoung (Som Tom) that is Larb. You can tell by the finely minced meat that is in it and the lack of papaya.

rebecca

I agree with the other commenters that the dish needed more of some things. I tripled the lime juice, doubled the fish sauce, and doubled the chili (I used sambal oelek) and herbs. In addition to the scallions and cilantro, I also included Thai basil. I really liked the overall dish, it just needed a little more oomph for my personal taste.

Janice

This is good, but was a little bit salty. I used sambal oelek instead of chili powder, and my fish sauce was Vietnamese, not Thai (nuoc mam vs. nam pla). The salt is probably due to the fish sauce, so I may cut that down next time. I also made 4x the amount of chili-lime juice (2 limes)-fish sauce, and 2x the onion and scallion and cilantro.

I like this ratio of veg to meat; I might increase the mint leaves next time, but decrease the fish sauce (maybe).

Joe Decker

It's possible they've fixed the image.

Spencer

Similar to tabbouleh, I like to see more green than white, so I agree with most commenters on upping the quantities of the alliums and herbs. The recipe I've been using for years calls for two chopped scallions and shallots, then a half-cup each of chopped cilantro and mint. Also, I may just be a masoch*st, but I put in at least twice the prik pon chili flakes (I like wangderm brand). I'm not crying, you're crying!

Willoughby Lloyd

MUST ADD Match stick cut slices of ginger and some ginger juice! Bangkok in Hackensack NJ it's must try when in Jersey!

tjpeck

Make your own ground chicken by cutting half- chicken breast into chunks and grounding it in the Cuisinart. Def triple the lime and double the fish sauce. I also add 1 tablespoon of rice wine vinegar, 1 tbs of lite tamari (for color) and a pinch of brown sugar. Perfection!

Chef D

I had never made Larb but this went pretty well. My wife loves lime juice so I added more than the recipe called for which I think ended up being about the appropriate amount (3 limes plus a couple wedges for garnish/squeezing). Couldn’t find plain roasted rice powder at my local store but found “roasted 12 grain powder” which seems to be mostly rice powder but some beans etc. which worked fine. Will definitely make again.

Vienna mom

Didn’t enjoy this, the toasted rice gave a bitter taste even though I followed directions to toast until brown.

Jenny Morgan

This is a simple and great recipe.

mw

Add ginger2.5x lime2x onion, scallion Add chili paste instead and oyster sauce Everything goes in the wok together (except for scallions which go in towards the end and milk/cilantro which go in after the heat is off)

Janma

I had some poached chicken that needed to be eaten! I made a salad using the sauce the sauce, ingredients, herbs, and aromatics. I’m going to serve it over room temperature rice! It taste fantastic, even though it isn’t Larb!

Stacy

Brown the chicken (or ground turkey), and add seasoning to taste. DELICIOUS!

AWP

Quick, easy, delicious! My kids wanted more, more more!

Leigh

I made a slightly more traditional version and added 2 TB of chopped lemongrass, 1 c chopped mint and red chili flakes (instead of chili powder) to the overall dish. It was very flavorful and served with Romaine lettuce leaves (which hold their shape well).

bettina

Great base as others have said ,but thanks to all the previous reviews I added a fresh red chili and doubled the herbs. For my personal taste, I halved the fish sauce. For me, it turned out perfectly. I served it in a salad with micro greens and chopped cucumber over rice.

Andrew H

I agree with a the double the ingredients and increase the ratio of lime juice comments, use Red Boat fish sauce. I used leftover thinly sliced boneless skinless chicken thigh and just reheated them for a minute. As prep I let the onions, lime juice, fish sauce chili powder sit with some cilantro for an hour.The rice powder is easy enough to make and my local Asian food store had never heard of it so just make it yourself.

Michaela

I had some zucchini and cut it up and sauteed it with some garlic scapes before adding the chicken to the pan. I did not add water. I also added some hot sauce because my chili powder was not hot enough.

Hollyliz

Doubled the lime/fish sauce mix and added two to three times the herbs, plus Thai chilis

Terry

Would this work if you substituted the rice powder with riced califlower?

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Thai Larb Gai (Chicken With Lime, Chili and Fresh Herbs) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does larb mean in Thai? ›

Larb means that the dish is chopped. Chopped to the max. And how you add flavor to these chopped creations varies vastly from region to region. The larb spice mix that we have just received comes from Northern Thailand. Laap Muang.

What does Thai larb taste like? ›

Larb is a salad of Northeastern Thai origin that features all of the flavors we typically associate with Thai food. It has a fiery spice from dried chilis, a citrusy tartness from lime juice, umami-packed saltiness from fish sauce, and tons of fresh herbs.

Why is larb so good? ›

larb Isan is known for its robust spiciness. Minced meat is usually seasoned with lime juice, fish sauce, chilli powder, grounded roasted rice, shallots, and spring onions. Some recipes also include coriander and mint leaves.

How do you eat chicken larb? ›

You can serve chicken larb warm, or lightly chilled making it a refreshing and light meal. I love serving chicken larb in bowl form with steamed rice, cucumbers, lettuce cups, and loads of fresh herbs.

What does yum yum mean in Thai? ›

Yum, meaning “mix,” is a hearty dish consisting mostly of meat, fish, or seafood together with many other typically Thai ingredients which may include peanuts, fruit, and herbs.

What is the difference between larb and LAAB? ›

"Larb" is the most popular way Thai restaurants write out the dish on menus because when Thai people speak Thai-accented English, we don't pronounce the R (we pronounce "car" as "ka," for example). Anyway, LAAB is a ground meat salad that hails from the northeast region of Thailand known as Isaan.

What are the 5 flavor in Thai food? ›

The Key to Thai Flavors: Balance

These are: salty, sweet, spicy, sour, and creamy. For the dish to taste authentic, all five flavors need to be in a perfect balance. Cooking Thai food isn't easy, and if the flavors don't complement one another, something will taste off.

What is the most popular dish at a Thai restaurant? ›

1. Pad Thai: Stir-fried noodles. An iconic Thai dish, Pad Thai is usually made with flat rice noodles, combined with seafood (or chicken or pork), egg, sauces and vegetables such as bean sprouts and shallots, served with a sprinkle of fresh herbs, chilli and roasted peanuts (optional).

Why is Thai food better than Chinese? ›

Thai food is often healthier than Chinese food. Thai food puts a focus on balance and variety. They are often light and the aromas are just as important as the taste of the food. Thai food uses less heavy sauces and oils than Chinese food uses that are healthier for you, if any oil at all.

Why does larb smell? ›

Why? Authentic larb gai is made with padaek which is a fermented fish made into a thick fish sauce. Fermented fish is what makes larb smell. If you can't get over the smell, this is one of the ingredients that can be omitted from the recipe without any substitutions.

What meat is Thailand known for? ›

Meats used in Thai cuisine are usually pork and chicken, and also duck, beef, and water buffalo. Goat, lamb, and mutton are rarely eaten except by Muslim Thais in Southern Thailand.

Is Thai larb healthy? ›

Another healthy Thai salad option is the Larb. This salad is made with minced meat (usually chicken, pork, or beef), mixed with herbs, lime juice, and fish sauce, and served with lettuce leaves. It's a high-protein and low-carb salad that's perfect for those following a low-carb or ketogenic diet.

Where did chicken larb come from? ›

While typically perceived as Thai, larb actually originated in Laos — where it is largely considered the national dish! Over time, the dish migrated and became popular in Thailand. Today, the dish is regional to both Laos and Isan, the northeastern region of Thailand.

How do you cut chicken for Thai food? ›

Technique: Thai cooking often utilizes a technique called slicing against the grain. This means the chicken is cut perpendicular to the muscle fibers. When cooked, these short fibers become more tender and easier to chew, even when sliced thin.

Why is it called larb? ›

The name of the dish actually is derived from the ancient Lanna language from the north of Thailand, where the word meaning 'luck' comes from the ancient Sanskrit language ("The History of Larb"). What Makes Larb? Larb is a similar dish to the famous Thai food 'somtum', or papaya salad.

What does Ting Tong mean in Thai? ›

Ting tong is typically used to indicate that someone is perceived as being a bit wacky, unusual or eccentric.

What does tum pok pok mean in Thai? ›

Tum Pok Pok is the sound when you. make Somtum, the chillies are beaten.

Where did Thai larb originate? ›

Larb is said to have originated in Laos but today, the dish is regional to Laos and Isaan (or Isan), the northeastern region of Thailand bordering Laos and Cambodia. The largest region of Thailand is where most of the nation's rice is grown and has a rich Khmer era history going back at least 5,000 years.

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