Larb Gai Nikki Style Recipes

THAI LARB GAI (CHICKEN WITH LIME, CHILI AND FRESH HERBS)

Steps:

• To make roasted rice powder, heat a wok or skillet over high heat. Add raw rice and cook, stirring often, until rice is toasted and dark brown, but not black, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from wok and set aside to cool. Grind to a coarse powder in a mortar, blender or coffee grinder; set aside.
• To cook chicken, heat a wok or skillet over medium-high heat. When very hot, add 2 tablespoons water, then add chicken, stirring constantly to break up any lumps. Cook just until cooked through, about two minutes, then transfer to mixing bowl. While chicken is just warm, add remaining ingredients (except for garnishes) and roasted rice powder. Mix gently but thoroughly. Taste and adjust seasonings. Mixture should be tangy, salty and lightly spicy.
• Spoon onto serving plate and surround with mint, lettuce and cucumber. Serve with rice. If serving with sticky rice, pinch some off, mold into a small ball and dip into larb, scooping up a little of each ingredient. Or scoop larb into lettuce leaves.

LARB GAI NIKKI-STYLE

Steps:

• Whisk lemon juice, lime juice, fish sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, cayenne, and lemon zest together in a bowl until dressing is smooth.
• Spread ground turkey in a thin layer in a arge skillet; add garlic. Pour enough water into the skillet to cover the turkey; bring to a boil. Cook and stir turkey mixture, breaking the meat apart with a fork, until turkey is browned and crumbly, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain liquid and transfer turkey to a large glass bowl.
• Mix red onion, carrot, chestnuts, Thai chile peppers, green onions, mint, basil, and cilantro into turkey until well combined. Refrigerate mixture until chilled, about 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle rice powder and Thai chile flakes over turkey mixture and mix well.

CHICKEN LARB RECIPE (THAI LARB GAI)

Steps:

• In a small bowl mix together the fish sauce, lime juice and sugar. Mix until well combined.
• Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the chiles, shallots and garlic and cook stirring constantly for about 1 - 2 minutes or until the shallots become translucent. Don't let the garlic get brown.
• Add the ground chicken and cook, breaking it apart into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon for about 4 to 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink.
• Add the onions and scallions and toss for about 1-2 minutes. In this dish the onions and scallions get warmed up but don't get cooked until completely softened. If preferred cook them for about 4 minutes or until soft.
• Stir in the sauce. Toss to combine. NOTE: If using rice powder, sprinkle about a spoonful and toss. Add more if you prefer the mixture a bit thicker.
• Remove from the heat and add the fresh cilantro, mint and basil. Toss and taste. Add additional chilies(or chili flakes) for extra spiciness, additional fish sauce if you want the salad a bit saltier, additional sugar if its a bit too sour for your taste or extra lime juice if you feel you need more tartness.
• Serve warm or at room temperature with sticky rice and your choice fresh vegetables and additional fresh herbs (optional).

LARB GAI

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook chicken over medium heat until no longer pink, 8-10 minutes, breaking it into crumbles; drain. In the same skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add shallots and chiles; cook and stir until tender, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the cooked chicken, lime juice, fish sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar and Sriracha. Cook and stir until heated through. Stir in cilantro and mint. Serve with rice and, if desired, lettuce leaves.

LARB GAI: THAI CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Combine all salad dressing ingredients together in a cup or bowl. Stir to dissolve sugar. Set aside.
• Combine all the cold salad ingredients in a large salad bowl (arugula/salad greens, mint, green onions, basil, red pepper, and cucumber).
• If using rice, see instructions below. Set aside.
• Place 1 to 2 tablespoons oil in a wok or frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the shallots, chicken, and lime leaf (if using).
• As you stir-fry, add the fish sauce. Also, add a little water if the pan becomes dry. Stir-fry until chicken is cooked-about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Transfer the hot chicken to the salad bowl with prepared salad ingredients. Pour over the dressing and toss well.
• Finally, add the chopped nuts or ground toasted rice.
• Taste test the salad, adding more fish sauce if you prefer it saltier or more flavorful. Add more dried crushed chile if you prefer it spicier. If too bitter, add a little more sugar.
• Garnish with more mint or basil leaves or with some edible flowers.
• Serve immediately while the chicken is still warm.
• Place uncooked rice in a dry wok or frying pan over medium-high heat. As rice heats up, shake the pan back and forth or stir with a spoon. After 6 to 8 minutes, the rice will turn a light golden brown and begin to pop (like popcorn).
• When it begins to pop, transfer to a coffee grinder or pestle and mortar. Grind down to a coarse powder. (A coffee grinder works well for this. Simply wipe out with a clean, dry cloth, then pour in your rice and grind. For pestle and mortar, use a firm, circular grinding motion.)
• Use in your recipe and enjoy.