Goodbye 2020 and HELLO 2021! I hope all of you are happy, healthy and well! I cannot tell you how long it has been since I have sat down at my computer and let my thoughts escape. There are so many things I have wanted to write and wanted to say but this last year really put a damper on that. With that being said I am tired of not being able to do the things I love. I did not start this blog for anyone but myself and for my kids to go back and read one day. SO, here I am back at my computer!
I must say that with all of the crazy going on the world our family has really enjoyed home school and quarantine. We do just fine hanging out with each other and I think remote learning is something my kids have secretly been praying for. I know it won’t last forever and that is ok but we have made some really good memories. Rob and I always try to make the hard, weird, unbearable situations fun…really an adventure. We have spent the last however many months having movie nights, swimming all day, staying up late, cooking, baking, recreating foods from our favorite restaurants, making forts, picking up extreme sports like scootering (I do not participate in that LOL), and countless other activities. We have also made several trips to the ER and I am pretty sure we set a record for the most injuries in a household. Thankfully everyone is
on the mend!
As I mentioned above one of our favorite things during quarantine has been cooking. We love a good theme night over here and we NEVER neglect Taco Tuesday. If Taco Tuesday is not acknowledged once a week one of my children make sure that I am aware. Though we love tacos Thai food has become a favorite over here and good family style Thai food night has become something everyone gets excited about and really wants to help with. Now I am not an expert in Thai cuisine but my Mother In Law certainly is and I love making a dish and getting her approval. Over the years I have enjoyed my time in the kitchen with her and I am thankful that she has passed on some of her recipes and inspired me to keep her recipes alive.
I will stop blabbing now and get to the recipe….I could literally go on forever LOL ! As always when cooking make the dish your own. A recipe is just there for guidance. Let your creativity, your likes and dislikes transform the recipe!
Larb/Laab/Laap…Thai Lettuce Wrap
Ingredients:
- 1Tbs uncooked Jasmine Rice
- 1 lb ground pork, ground chicken or ground turkey (my family prefers ground turkey)
- 1-2 limes
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 thinly sliced onion
- 2 green onions chopped
- 1 tbs Tom Yum Paste ( not necessary but nicely adds to the recipe)
- 1 tbs cooking oil
- handful of chopped fresh mint (not necessary)
- handful of chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 heaping tbs sugar (palm sugar if you have it)
- 3 tbs fish sauce
- 2 to 3 tbs Thai chili flakes (red pepper flakes will work too)
- Green lettuce
- Cucumber
*When shopping for Thai spices and sauces make sure the container says, “PRODUCT OF THAILAND.” This will insure the correct flavors specific to Thailand.
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl combine your thinly sliced onions, lime juice and your meat. I start with the juice of 1 lime but if the lime is lacking in juice I use 11/2 to 2. The lime juice will help breakdown the meat to give the “minced meat” texture. I typically let mine marinate for at least an hour. While it is marinating I toast and grind my rice, chop all of my ingredients and get my spices and sauces out.
- Heat a me
dium sized skillet over medium heat WITHOUT OIL. Once the pan is hot add the uncooked jasmine rice and toast until it is golden brown. Once it is nicely toasted remove from the heat and let it cool. After the rice has cooled place it in a small food processor and grind it up! You could also use a mortar and pestle if you wanted too. I don’t grind mine into a fine powder we like texture and crunch. I usually make quite a bit of toasted rice at a time and once it is cooled I store it in a glass jar so I have it for the next time. - Return the same skillet to the stove on medium heat and add the oil. Let the oil heat up to shimmer and then add your meat mixture. With a wooden spoon break apart the meat and continue to stir. You want to cook the meat all of the way through. The moisture should cook completely out and your meat should be a fine texture. Once the meat is cooked you are going to add the sugar. Stir the sugar in and let cook for about minute. Then add your fish sauce, Tom Yum Paste, Thai chili flakes, toasted rice, and half of the green onion and cilantro. Cook for another minute and then remove from the heat. Give it a taste! This is where you can add more spice, flavor etc.
- Now that your meat is perfectly tasty transfer it to a serving dish and top with a sprinkle of toasted rice, the rest of the green and onion and cilantro and chopped fresh mint. I add lime wedges on the side and I keep some extra Thai chili flakes handy in case anyone wants to add more spice.
- You are now ready to serve your dish! I have found that Boston lettuce makes a nice little wrap but you can choose any green lettuce or leafy green. You can also serve it with sliced cucumber, watermelon radishes, jicama or really anything you would like. If you know me you know I extremely dislike cucumber so you will not EVER find one on my table LOL.
This is a great dish to serve pool side, family style with other THAI dishes or by itself. It keeps in the fridge nicely and you are sure to get many compliments on it if you serve it to your guests. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! Keep an eye for more Thai recipes coming soon. If you enjoyed this recipe please LIKE, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE!
THAT’S A WRAP!
Yummy!!! Welcome back!!
It’s good to be back!