Larp (larb gai) is a classic Thai/Laos chicken salad, packed with delicious lemongrass, lime, cilantro and chili. Healthy, flavorful & great for a picnic or lunch box.
![Larp (larb gai) is a classic Thai/Laos chicken salad, though unlike any chicken salad you may be familiar with. This one is packed with delicious lemongrass, lime, cilantro and chili alongside the meat itself. Healthy, light, flavorful & great for a picnic or lunchbox. plate of lettuceleaves topped with larp (larb gai, Thai/Laos chicken salad)](images/chicken-larp-larb-gai-photo.jpg)
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I suspect it's not particularly normal to take a cooking lesson on your honeymoon, especially on your own while your new husband relaxes at the hotel, but I did.
You see, even though I hadn't started this blog at that point, I still loved food and we had been loving the food in Laos in particular. I couldn't really pass up the opportunity to learn some dishes first-hand. And my husband was happy enough to enjoy the results of my cooking that I brought back at lunchtime when we finished.
One of the things I learned was larp, which he was very glad to help me eat, as with all the other times we had it on our trip.
![Larp (larb gai) is a classic Thai/Laos chicken salad, though unlike any chicken salad you may be familiar with. This one is packed with delicious lemongrass, lime, cilantro and chili alongside the meat itself. Healthy, light, flavorful & great for a picnic or lunchbox. plate of larp (also called larb gai, Thai/Laos chicken salad) on lettuce leaves](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/chicken-larp-larb-gai-picture-768x1024.jpg)
What is Laos food like?
Laos cuisine is influenced by it's history, as is true of most countries. Much of it is similar to Northern Thai food (which used to be part of Laos so arguably it is really Laos food). You'll also find some French influence, especially in bread, from former colonial times.
Sticky rice is a staple in the region, alongside curries, some spicy sauces and lots of fresh flavors from lemongrass, cilantro and lime.
Luang Prabang salad (Laos salad) is a great example of using these flavors, as is the classic dish larp. All perfect to enjoy in the serene surroundings (well, until fireworks are set off).
![view from hill in Luang Prabang, Laos view from hill in Luang Prabang, Laos](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Laos-inspiration-for-larp-Laos-chicken-salad-1024x768.jpg)
Is it larp or larb gai?
Given the interconnected history, it's not surprising some dishes are in both Laos and Thai cooking. If you've ever seen larb gai on a Thai menu, it's basically the same as what we saw written as larp in Laos.
Larp is generally considered the national dish of Laos. It's a great introduction to the food as it showcases the fresh flavors, it's relatively light but with that bit of spice.
The dish was generally translated as "Laos chicken salad" but it's unlike any chicken salad you are likely to have had before or since. You can also make it with other meats, like pork larb.
![ingredients for larp/larb gai ingredients laid out to make larp - chopped herbs, lime, spices, shallot, garlic and lemongrass](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/chicken-larp-larb-gai-ingredients-768x1024.jpg)
Tips for making larp/larb gai
I have adapted the recipe I was shown at my cooking class (at Tamnak Lao in Luang Prabang) to make it a little simpler but retaining the flavors and style. Many recipes I have seen for the Thai version start with ready-ground meat, but we were shown using a whole chicken breast to start.
I know it can be a pain to mince the chicken yourself, but I really would recommend it as it keeps it nice and lean. Bought ground chicken/mince just isn't quite the same. One thing I would say - don't worry if the chicken looks like it gets wetter before it dries out, it's just moisture coming out of the chicken. It does get there!
If you can get fresh lemongrass, it is more authentic but it can be a little tricky to cut it small enough. Having also made it with pureed lemongrass, that works pretty well too.
![toasting rice for Larp (larb gai, Thai/Laos chicken salad) toasting rice for Larp (larb gai, Thai/Laos chicken salad)](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/toasting-rice-chicken-larp-larb-gai.jpg)
One other thing that is a bit unusual is the toasted rice flour. This doesn't mean the rice flour you may be familiar with which is an off-white. Toasted rice flour is a pale brown as the raw rice is toasted first before grinding.
I generally make my own, as I also do for nam tok, Thai beef salad ('waterfall beef') since it is a small quantity and I struggle to find it. It's fairly easy to toast the grains as you chop other things up.
![Larp (larb gai) is a classic Thai/Laos chicken salad, though unlike any chicken salad you may be familiar with. This one is packed with delicious lemongrass, lime, cilantro and chili alongside the meat itself. Healthy, light, flavorful & great for a picnic or lunchbox. Larp mixture in skillet](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/chicken-larp-larb-gai-pic-in-pan.jpg)
Otherwise, it's pretty easy as you just cook up the chicken, chop things up and mix it all together. This dish differs from many Thai/Laos dishes as it uses dried rather than fresh chili.
See how it all comes together in the short video
How to serve this salad
This chicken salad goes really well with green papaya or mango salad to make it more of a meal or for a mixed appetizer. These days, there's a bit of a trend to serve it in smaller amounts on lettuce as lettuce wraps.
On our honeymoon, the lettuce was more just for decoration with a larger amount on top. We got it a couple times with spring rolls and some beers for a delicious lunch. Really, whatever you prefer!
It's such a tasty dish, full of fresh flavors from lime, lemongrass and cilantro but with a kick of spice. It's great on a warm day, and works well for a picnic or lunch box as it doesn't wilt.
![Larp (larb gai) is a classic Thai/Laos chicken salad, though unlike any chicken salad you may be familiar with. This one is packed with delicious lemongrass, lime, cilantro and chili alongside the meat itself. Healthy, light, flavorful & great for a picnic or lunchbox. Larp (larb gai, Thai/Laos chicken salad) served on lettuce leaves with papaya salad behind](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/chicken-larp-larb-gai-pic.jpg)
I know I am looking forward to making larp/larb gai a few times in the coming months, especially as the weather warms up. But really, any excuse for this tasty Laos chicken salad is a good one, whatever the weather.
Try these other less than typical salads:
- Vietnamese chicken salad
- Calamari salad with fennel and avocado
- Fruit, herb and feta Israeli couscous salad
- Plus get more ideas in the lunch recipes archives.
Larp (larb gai, Thai/Laos chicken salad)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon rice sticky or long grain
- 1 lb chicken breast
- 1 ½ limes
- ¼ cup chicken stock
- 2 shallots or ½ red onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 handful arugula rocket, large
- ¾ oz cilantro/coriander (¾oz is 1 small box)
- 3 tablespoon lemongrass (3tbsp of puree of finely shredded and chopped fresh stems, about 2-3 stems)
- ½ teaspoon chili powder or more, to taste
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Put the uncooked rice in a dry skillet and toast until gently golden brown, moving round a bit now and then so that it cooks evenly. Once toasted, grind as fine as you can to a flour with a pestle and mortar or spice grinder. You can do this ahead of time, and in larger quantities as suits.
- Trim the chicken of any fat then mince it - I find the easiest is to chop it into slices, then dice and chop further.
- Put the chicken, the juice of ½ lime and the stock in a hot wok or skillet/frying pan and cook until all of the liquid is absorbed, stirring regularly.
- Meanwhile, dice the shallot/onion small, finely dice the the garlic, chop up the arugula/rocket, cilantro/coriander (can just chop off the stems below the lower leaves and chop the rest) and dice the white part of the lemongrass finely if using fresh.
- Mix the cooked chicken with the shallot/onion, garlic, arugula, cilantro, lemongrass, chili powder, fish sauce, salt and the juice and zest of a lime. Stir in the toasted rice flour and serve.
Video
Nutrition
See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
Try these other tastes of the tropics:
Main dishes -
- Bali Spicy Grilled Fish - Ikan Bakar Jimbaran by Food Lust People Love
- Grilled Swordfish with Pineapple Salsa by Cooking Chat
- Kalua Pig by Palatable Pastime
- Mango Barbecued Pork Chops by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
- Whole Roasted Bream with a Ginger-Tamarind Sauce by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Desserts and treats -
- Double Ginger Cookies by Pies and Plots
- Majarete Ice Cream by Sew You Think You Can Cook
- Mini Mango Cheesecakes by The Freshman Cook
- Ube Panna Cotta by The Joyful Foodie
Remember to pin for later!
![Larp (larb gai) is a classic Thai/Laos chicken salad, though unlike any chicken salad you may be familiar with. This one is packed with delicious lemongrass, lime, cilantro and chili alongside the meat itself. Healthy, light, flavorful & great for a picnic or lunchbox. Larp (larb gai) is a classic Thai/Laos chicken salad, though unlike any chicken salad you may be familiar with. This one is packed with delicious lemongrass, lime, cilantro and chili alongside the meat itself. Healthy, light, flavorful & great for a picnic or lunchbox. #laoschickensalad #larp #larbgai](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Larp-larb-gai-ThaiLaos-chicken-salad-pin.jpg)
som sai
Laap can be made many different ways. One variation uses padek instead of the chicken stock to make things wetter, you can then also skip the fish sauce. I like the dried chillies you mention but many use fresh, also kaffir lime which I don't like much at all. About the ground chicken vs chopping. I think the chopping gives it a different texture and flavor, no harm in dicing up the chicken skin also and stir frying that in the pan first with chopped liver/gizzard. It's said that the sound of the knife chopping is distinctive, and everyone who hears it knows that family has meat for dinner. Notice I use the long A spelling? There is no R in spoken Lao, nor in written Lao after the revolution when silent things were tossed to simplify literacy. Long comment LOL, as they say in Lao, Soon Saap! (bon appetit)
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks for your comment, yes indeed so many traditional recipes like this have a number of variations. Always fun to explore and figure out what suits your tastes best!
Stef
YUMMY! I also fell in love with this meal while travelling around Laos! I think I had my favourite one in a sweet little cafe called Delilahs in Luang Prabang. Reading this post brought back so many memories and made me want to go back and eat this again!
Caroline's Cooking
I can imagine, Stef (in fact, I'll need to look up Delilah's to see where it is, as I might have been there too!)
Julia
I would love to make this salad! Thanks for the recipe! I lived in Vietnam for several years, but never made it over to Laos. How neat that you honeymooned there!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Julia, it was a great place to visit but I bet Vietnam must have been fascinating to live in, too. I hope you get a chance to try making this and like it!
Bobbi from Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
I love larp and your looks delicious!!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Bobbi, it is so tasty. I might have to make it again soon!
Joy | The Joyful Foodie
Funny that you say it's not normal to take a cooking class on your honeymoon because as soon as I read that, I felt so jealous and wish I had done the same on mine! I always see larp on menus and never ordered it because I didn't know what it was. I can't wait to try making it myself!
Caroline's Cooking
Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea 🙂 Well now you know what larp is, Joy, and I hope you like it. Let me know!
Frank Mosher
With all due respect, the dish is more commonly referred to as Larb. Good recipe.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Frank, I think it varies a lot. It has maybe become more common as that spelling here, but I think I saw it as much both ways in Laos, if not more as larp. Either way, it's still a tasty dish!
Christie
I am loving this salad. It reminds me of a salad I had years ago in a Thai restaurant. Now I can enjoy it again.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Christie. It's always great when you rediscover things, hopefully you like this one as well!
Caroline @ Shrinking Single
Good larp is such a special treat. It is amazing how it so full of flavour yet delicate at the same time. Love the recipe!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Caroline, I agree it's a great dish!
Sue
I know this as larb but it still looks wonderful! I could probably eat it all day long.
Caroline's Cooking
Yes, Sue, it's sometimes translated as larp, sometimes as larb, but either way it's a great tasting dish and agree, I could eat lots of it!
Valerie Cathell Clark
This chicken salad is on my list now! It looks wonderful and I love the flavors you've used! {cilantro!}
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Valerie, yes there are some great flavors in there. I hope you get the chance to try it and enjoy!
Renee
I couldn't wait to see this recipe. I'm so thrilled you shared a recipe from Laos and I can't wait to try it. What incredible flavors in it.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Renee, that's so kind! It really does have some fantastic flavors, and is great for warmer days.
Liz
I'd forgotten what larp was, but now that I've seen your terrific recipe, it will be etched in my mind!!!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Liz, yes the name isn't exactly a giveaway (nor really hint at how delicious it is!).