Larb is my favorite way to proteinmaxx without sacrificing flavor… because why would you? Larb is a dish found in north-eastern Thailand aka Isaan and is also the national dish of Laos. It’s a salty, sour, herbacous ground mince that may seem simple but is deeply ingrained in the Laotian culture represeting prosperity and luck. In Laos, they might prepare this with fish or wild meet, or ground pork in Thailand. I prefer using ground chicken and also add a can of beans to the mixture to beef it up with extra fiber (THIS ISN’T TRADITIONAL), along with adding lemongrass which isn’t authentic to the dish (I just love the flavor palette) Here’s hwo to 1lb ground chicken, pork, beef, shrimp (halved, peeled, tail off) 1 can of small white beans, rinsed and drained (optional) 1 tbsp olive oil 3 shallots, thinly sliced 1 lemongrass, thinly sliced (optional) 3 tbsp fish sauce juice of 3 limes 2 tablespoons toasted rice powder 1 1/2 tsp sugar 1/2 cup cilantro, roughly chopped 1/3 cup mint leaves 2 scallions, chopped 2 to 3 red chiles, sliced Heat the oil in a skillet over med heat. Saute 1/2 of the shallots and lemongrass until crispy, remove and set aside. Add the ground chicken and break it up into small pieces, until fully cooked and browned, about 4 to 6 minutes. Stir in the fish sauce, lime juice, and 2 tbsp water until incorporated. Stir in the beans if using. Stir in the rice powder and sugar and cook for 2 minutes until the mixture begins to thicken slightly. Taste and adjust seasoning adding more fish sauce (for salt) or lime juice for brightness. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining shallots, cilantro, mint, scallions, and chiles. Toss to combine for about 1 min until the herbs start to wilt slightly and turn right green Serve immediately with lettuce, endives, and/or rice. #larb #highprotein #healthylunchideas #thaifood - @lahbco