Pork Laab Lettuce cups

I absolutely Laab and my friend Kathleen who is half Thai introduced me to this at dinner at hers a few years ago, So fresh and super tasty . As part of my low carb meal plan, I made this one night and it was so so tasty and fresh! Easily make this without the Pork mince and use Chicken or Turkey mince if you do not eat pork.

Veggie/Vegan:

Omit the Pork and replace using Tofu, mushrooms or mock meat. . I have made this using KTC Vegan Chicken and it is also just as delicious!

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What you will need:

Lettuce ( I used Baby gem for these but feel free to use your choice of lettuce )

150g Ground Pork Mince

1 Shallot finely diced

Handful of fresh Mint chopped

Handful of fresh Corinader chopped

Hanful of Fresh Basil chopped

2-3 cloves minced Garlic

2 Fresh chillies diced (or less just depends on your taste)

4 tsp of Rice ( I usually use Pudding rice but any white ricewill do)

2 Fresh Limes

2 tbsp Fish sauce

1 tsp Sugar

1 tsp White Pepper

Optiona:l 1 tbsp Oyster sauce ( I use Thai oyster sauce here just for a bit more sauce and thickness)

Optional: Crushed toasted peanuts

Method:

  1. In a pan toast the rice till golden brown. This process is essential to the texture of the Laab. Once the rice is toasted and has caught some colour, in a pestle and mortar pound the rice to break up the grains of rice. Keep aside.

  2. In the same pan get your pan hot and stir fry your pork and shallot, making sure to brown off the Pork meat.

  3. Add your garlic and chilli. Season with the fish sauce and sugar.

  4. Add the toasted broken rice and one juice of the fresh lime. Mix well and you will see the texture of the Pork change. The rice will make the pork dead crunchy and will be delicious.

  5. Add the Oyster sauce and white pepper.

  6. Add half of all the fresh herbs ( coriander/ basil/mint) and give it a good stir. Take the pork off the heat and assemble your lettuce cups.

  7. In your lettuce cups feel free to add chopped cucumber or salad if you wish but this works with just the Pork Laab as it is.

  8. Spoon a bit of the Pork mix and garnish with a squeeze of fresh lime with each wrap and fresh garnishes. The toasted peanuts add a yummy crunch on top too but like I said this is optional. Enjoy| this is a staple meal in my house as its so tasty and just dead easy.

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Zosima Fulwell