Every time I had salmon sashimi, I'd always think to myself, "This would be SO good if I laab it!" So finally I tried out my culinary dream, and it's even better than I thought it would be! Spicy, herbaceous, fresh, light, healthy, gluten-free, not to mention it is a show stopper when you bring it out to the table!
In this video I also review how to make toasted rice powder (or what I call "magic powder") which is the key ingredient in a laab. Most importantly, make sure you use good quality, sushi-grade salmon that is super fresh for this dish!
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Spicy Salmon Salad (Laab Salmon) ลาบปลาแซลมอน
- Yield: Serves 2-3 as an appetizer
Ingredients
Toasted Rice Powder
- At least 1 tablespoon of Thai glutinous rice or jasmine rice (see note)
- Kaffir lime leaves, about 1 leaf per 2 tablespoon of rice (optional, see note)
Note: You only need 1 tablespoon of toasted rice powder for this recipe, but I like to make a bit extras so I can keep it for another use. To flavour your rice, you can also use thinly sliced lemongrass and/or galangal.
Dressing
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoon Lime juice
- 2-3 teaspoon water (if serving on its own, use 3 tsp, if serving with rice or lettuce, use 2)
- 1 small clove garlic, finely grated
- 2 inches lemongrass, very thinly sliced
- Roasted chili flakes, to taste (see note)
Salad
- 175g sushi-grade raw salmon
- 3 sprigs cilantro or 2 leaves sawtooth coriander
- 1 green onion, chopped
- 4-5 mint leaves, julienned
- 1 small sprig dill, picked into small pieces (optional)
- 2 Tbsp red onion or shallots, short julienne
- Red peppers, short julienne (optional)
- 1 tablespoon toasted rice powder
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Instructions
Toasted rice powder: In a dry wok or saute pan, combine the rice and the kaffir lime leaves (or any herbs you're using). Turn the heat to medium high and stir the rice constantly until the grains are deep golden brown and the herbs are dry. Transfer 1 tablespoon of the rice and a small piece of the herbs to a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder and pound or blitz until you have a fairly fine powder, but still with a little grittiness. (Do not grind any more than you are using. Keep the remaining toasted rice in an airtight container for future use.)
Make the dressing: Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
Assemble:
Slice the salmon thinly and arrange the pieces flat on a plate, making sure the pieces are touching.
Combine the herbs, onion and red bell pepper in a small bowl.
Stir the toasted rice powder into the dressing, then pour most of the dressing over the herbs, reserving a little bit for a final drizzle.
Toss the herbs and place on top of the salmon, arranging it however you like. Pour the reserved dressing over the rest of the salmon. Tip: you don't need to use all of the dressing if it looks like too much; you can always add more later.
Garnish with some extra herbs and red onion, then serve immediately. (The lime juice will continue to "cook" the salmon like a ceviche if you don't serve it quickly, so don't assemble the dish until ready to serve!)
Mike Nospamplease says
Hi I love your recipes. They have changed my life.
Your recipes are fantastic. If only Thai restaurants would cook food half as nice… but here in Australia they don’t.
I love your videos. They are inspirational.
Just recently your videos now get interrupted by an audio ad that I can’t stop. It is intrusive and inappropriate. I have to close the video and shut down my browser and sometimes the audio keeps going. It is creepy like a virus.
What a shame!
Kind regards,
Mike
Pailin Chongchitnant says
Hi Mike, thank you so much for your kind words and sorry to hear about the ad issue! It should not happen that way so that's definitely a bug. If you see it again can you take note of the ad that is playing and let me know what it is? If you can click on the ad and send the URL that will be more helpful in getting it fixed. There should also be a small button on the ad to "report" the ad which will directly send feedback to the ad company so they can fix it.
You can email us at htk@hotthaikitchen.com. Thank you, and my apologies again for this! -Pai
Futile Resistance says
Hard to find suitable salmon here but on the rare occasion I have it works brilliantly!