Laotian beef lap

6 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1tablespoonHeaping raw rice
3smallsDried red chilies
cupWater
1poundsGround round or ground sirloin
1teaspoonDried lemon grass or:
1teaspoonGrated lemon rind
1largeYellow onion, chopped very fine
3Fresh green chilies, chopped fine
1largeGreen pepper, seeded and chopped
¼cupMint leaves (about 30)
3tablespoonsLemon juice
Nam pla or salt to taste

Directions

Roast the rice in a dry frying pan over a medium flame until it is a pale gold color. Transfer it to a mortar and pound it to the consistency of corn meal. Roast the dry chilies in the same way and pound them in the mortar.

Bring the water to a boil and add the lemon grass and the beef, stirring until the meat changes color. Drain the meat and place in a serving dish with the rice, dried chilies, onions, fresh chilies, green pepper, and the mint leaves (reserving some of the mint for garnish). Sprinkle lemon juice all over and mix to blend well.

Finally add salt or nam pla to taste and garnish with the remaining mint leaves. Serve with plain boiled rice.

From: PEARL S. BUCK'S ORIENTAL COOKBOOK, SBN671-21366-0 Simon and Schuster, New York. 1972 Posted by: Karin Brewer, Cooking Echo, 7/92