What is Larb Gai?
Larb Gai, also known as Laab Gai or Larp Gai, is a popular dish from the northeastern region of Thailand, also known as Isan. The word ‘Larb’ translates to ‘finely chopped meat’, and ‘Gai’ means chicken in Thai. As the name suggests, Larb Gai is a salad made with minced chicken, although variations with pork, beef, duck, or fish are also common.
Clean and prepare all the vegetables. Dice the sweet red pepper, finely chop the onion, shred the carrot, and slice the spring onions. Grate the fresh ginger and finely chop the Thai red chilies. Set aside.
Cook the meat:
Heat the sesame oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the ground turkey or chicken and cook until it’s no longer pink, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks.
Add the vegetables:
Add the mushrooms, sweet red pepper, onion, carrot, and spring onions to the pan. Stir well to combine with the meat.
Add the sauces and spices:
Add the Hoisin sauce, balsamic vinegar, low-sodium soy sauce, grated ginger, and chopped Thai red chilies to the pan. Stir well to combine and coat the meat and vegetables in the sauce.
Simmer:
Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for about 10-15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the flavors have melded together.
Serve:
Spoon the mixture onto the lettuce leaves or romaine. Top with shaved red cabbage if desired. Serve warm.