Thai Beef Larb Bites

As promised in last weeks post “Is Thai Food Healthy?” here is a delicious and surprisingly easy healthy Thai Food recipe you can make at home. These are very yummy. You can pre make them all or if you have eaters with various tastes you can prepare all the ingredients and make them up at the table, lots of fun! It makes 12-15 so good as an entree. Due to the capsaicin content in red chilli, this meal may help to reduce pain, bonus for anyone anticipating a Myotherapy appointment!

INGREDIENTS

• 5oo grams beef mince, turkey or chicken mince
• 15 betel leaves or cos lettuce leaves
• 1 tbl spoon coconut oil
• 1 tbl spoon fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon coconut sugar
• 1 tbl spoon thinly sliced and chopped ginger
• 1 stalk of lemongrass finely chopped
• 1/2 salad onion thinly sliced
• 2 cloves of garlic chopped
• 2 fresh red chillies thinly sliced
• juice of 1 lime
• Fresh herbs – mint and coriander

METHOD – everyone helping themselves at the table

1. Heat coconut oil in your favourite stir-fry cooking pan.
2. Add garlic and stir for 1 minute.
3. Add mince and stir while cooking to make sure it all breaks apart and cooks evenly.
4. Remove from heat and set aside.
5. Prepare the betel or cos lettuce leaves in a pile for serving.
6. Prepare the ginger, lemongrass, onion, red chillies and fresh herbs for serving.
7. In a small pan gently heat the lime juice and fish sauce then add the coconut sugar and stir until the sugar has just dissolved.
8. Pour the sauce into a small bowl for serving.
9. The mince should now be cool enough to also place in a large bowl for serving.
10. Now you are ready to eat!
11. Place everything in the centre of the table, start with you leaf (you can make a cone to stuff your ingredients by folding the leaf in half and then in half again, now open it to provide a pocket), add approximately 2 heaped tablespoons of mince followed by your desired ingredients and herbs then using a teaspoon pour 1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon of sauce on top. Enjoy!!

METHOD – serve for your family

1. Heat the coconut oil in your favourite stir-fry cooking pan.
2. Add garlic, ginger, lemongrass, and red chillies.
3. Stir for 1 minute.
4. Add the mince and stir for 5 minutes until cooked through.
5. Remove from heat and set aside.
6. Prepare the betel or cos lettuce leaves 3 on each plate.
7. Prepare the onion and herbs.
8. In a small pan gently heat the lime juice and fish sauce then add the coconut sugar and stir until the sugar has just dissolved and pour over the mince.
9. Place 2-3 tablespoons of mince on each leaf then top with onion and herbs.
10. Time to eat! Yum Yum!!