Lao Beef and Herb Salad (Laap Nuea)
Laap Nuea is a quintessential Lao salad, often considered the national dish. It features finely minced or sliced cooked beef, intensely flavored with fresh herbs, lime juice, fish sauce, and toasted sticky rice powder for a unique nutty texture. It's a vibrant and aromatic dish that balances spicy, sour, salty, and savory notes.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 lb Lean beef steak(e.g., sirloin, flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain, then finely minced)
- 0.25 cup Glutinous rice (sticky rice)(for toasting and grinding into powder)
- 3 tbsp Fish sauce(or to taste)
- 3 tbsp Lime juice(freshly squeezed, or to taste)
- 3 medium Shallots(thinly sliced)
- 1 stalk Lemongrass(tender inner part only, finely minced)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 2 small Thai bird's eye chilies(thinly sliced, or to taste)
- 0.5 cup Cilantro(coarsely chopped)
- 0.5 cup Mint leaves(coarsely chopped)
- 3 stalks Green onions(thinly sliced)
- 0.5 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 3 leaves Kaffir lime leaves(very finely minced (optional))
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Toast the glutinous rice in a dry pan over medium-low heat until golden brown and fragrant, about 8-10 minutes. Let cool, then grind into a coarse powder using a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder. Set aside.
- 2
Heat a skillet or wok over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of oil. Add the minced beef and cook, stirring, until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess fat.
💡 Tip: Alternatively, you can grill the beef steak until medium-rare, then mince it. - 3
Transfer the cooked beef to a large bowl. Add the toasted rice powder, fish sauce, lime juice, minced lemongrass, minced garlic, sliced shallots, minced chilies, salt, and minced kaffir lime leaves (if using).
💡 Tip: Start with less chili and lime juice, and adjust to your preference. - 4
Add the chopped cilantro, mint leaves, and green onions to the bowl. Toss everything together thoroughly to combine all the flavors.
💡 Tip: Ensure the herbs are fresh and generously added for authentic flavor. - 5
Taste and adjust the seasoning. You are looking for a balance of spicy, sour, salty, and savory. Add more lime juice for tanginess, fish sauce for saltiness, or chilies for heat.
💡 Tip: Laap is meant to be intensely flavored. - 6
Serve immediately, typically with sticky rice, lettuce leaves for wrapping, and fresh cucumber slices.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The quality of the herbs is crucial for an authentic Laap flavor.
- ✓Toasting the rice powder is essential for its nutty aroma and texture.
- ✓Adjust the heat level by adding more or fewer chilies.
- ✓For a richer flavor, some recipes include a small amount of finely chopped liver or pork skin.
🔄 Variations
- Laap can be made with chicken (Laap Gai), pork (Laap Moo), or duck (Laap Ped).
- For a raw version (Koi), use very finely minced raw beef or fish and briefly 'cook' it with lime juice.