Larb A Quick Weeknight Dinner

Looking For A Quick Weeknight Dinner? Try These Asian-inspired lettuce Cups!

You’ve most likely tried Asian lettuce cups as an appetizer at your local Chinese restaurant. Larb the “unofficial” national dish of Laos, is just that, minced meat in a lettuce cup.

Larb (also often called larp or laab) is a common street food found at many curbside vendors throughout Southeast Asia. In those countries, larb is often served raw and cold. I would be extra careful if you choose to consume meat this way.

---

This article may contain affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use these links to buy products or services. Please see our disclosure policy for full details. Thanks.

---

Larb – Preparing the Ingredients

Larb is a quick weeknight dinner, you can cook up in about 30 minutes. This dish has all the Asian take-out flavor without having to go to the restaurant.

There is a bit of prep, but get your family to help! Also, in the summer, you are adding minimum heat to your kitchen. Less heat in the summer is always a good thing.

You can add as many fresh veggies to the mix as you have on hand, julienned carrots and celery, along with the cucumber and jicama would add crunch and texture. If you are serving this to kids, be careful with the number of chilies you add. These little chilies pack quite a hot punch. You can add the chilies as a garnish for the adults.

Start the Rice

Prep the Aromatics

Brown the Meat

Assemble the Dressing

1. Combine the Juice of two limes with 1 – 2 tbsp Fish Sauce and 1/2 tsp Demerara or Brown Sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved

Finishing Steps: Put Together Your Larb (Lettuce Cups)

1. Lastly, chop your toppings: extra chilies, jicama, cilantro, peanuts, and limes, and separate the lettuce leaves
2. Using one lettuce leaf, place rice in first, then add the meat mixture. Top with your choice of herbs and veggies, roll up and chow down! ,

To make the veggie prep easier, you can use a mini-food processor. I have an ancient Oskar that was given to me by a friend years and years ago. There are several different mini-food processors on the market today, and this one-time purchase provides a great return.

A rice cooker makes the job of cooking the rice a no-brainer. Just put the rice and liquid in the cooker and push the button. When the rice is done, the cooker turns off. This handy machine is useful for cooking other grains as well like barley, quinoa, and bulgar.

---

Larb – Keeping it Light and Healthyish(?)

I chose to use ground turkey in my dish. Chicken and duck are not uncommon in Laos or Thailand. But you also frequently find Larb made with lamb, beef, and pork.

I add rice, as my husband wouldn’t consider this a main dish without starch. If you are doing Keto or carb-free, you can leave the rice out, and the Larb is still delicious.

You can also make this as a vegetarian dish by using tofu, mushrooms, and soy sauce in place of the fish sauce.