Name: Laab Gai – Thai Ground Chicken Salad Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 17 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 1 pound Ground Chicken (breast, thigh, or combination; turkey, pork, or beef can also be used); ¼ cup Water (if using lean chicken breast); ½ cup Red Onion (thinly sliced); ¼ cup Cilantro Leaves; ¼ cup Mint Leaves; 1 tablespoon Toasted Rice Powder; 1-2 tablespoons Fish Sauce (start with 1 tablespoon, taste and add more if needed); 2-3 tablespoons Fresh Lime Juice (taste and add more if needed); 1 tablespoon Ground Thai Chili Peppers (adjust for desired spice level)

Jump to Recipe· 4.3 from 1 review

If you’re craving something vibrant, zesty, and packed with fresh herbs, then Laab Gai – Thai Ground Chicken Salad Recipe is an absolute must-try. This dish is a sensational harmony of savory ground chicken, bright lime juice, spicy chili, and fragrant herbs that make each bite burst with authentic Thai flavors. It’s quick to prepare, delightfully light, and a perfect way to impress friends with an exotic yet approachable meal. Whether you’re new to Thai cuisine or a seasoned fan, this Laab Gai recipe will become one of your go-to favorites for lively meals that bring a smile to the table.

Ingredients You’ll Need

A shiny metal pan filled with light brown grains that look like toasted rice, scattered unevenly across the bottom. Among the grains are four fresh green leaves, two larger and two smaller, placed on top of the grains, adding a pop of color. The pan has a smooth, reflective surface with a small metal rivet visible near the edge, and the background is a white marbled texture. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Gathering the right ingredients is the secret behind the irresistible taste and texture of this salad. Each component, from the ground chicken to the toasted rice powder, plays a crucial role in balancing freshness, heat, crunch, and umami. Don’t worry, these ingredients are simple, easy to find, and guarantee a colorful plate that tastes much more special than the effort it takes.

Ground Chicken: The star protein, use breast, thigh, or a mix for juicy flavor and tenderness.

Water: Keeps lean chicken moist during cooking and prevents dryness.
Red Onion: Thinly sliced for crunch and a slight sharpness, wilted gently in the heat.
Toasted Rice Powder: Adds a nutty, slightly toasted crunch that’s signature to Laab.

Fish Sauce: A salty-savory depth essential to authentic Thai cooking, start small and adjust.
Fresh Lime Juice: Provides a bright acidic kick that livens up every bite.
Ground Thai Chili Peppers: The heat component—add as much or as little as you like.

Cilantro Leaves: Adds freshness and a herby zing to balance flavors.
Mint Leaves: Their cooling effect contrasts beautifully with the spice and acid.

How to Make Laab Gai – Thai Ground Chicken Salad Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Toasted Rice Powder

Start by toasting glutinous rice grains in a dry pan over medium heat until golden and fragrant. This process unlocks a wonderful nutty aroma. Once toasted, grind the rice into a fine powder using a spice grinder or blender, sifting out any unground bits. This simple yet essential ingredient brings a unique texture and an unmistakable nutty flavor that elevates the salad to something truly special.

Step 2: Cook the Ground Chicken

In a non-stick skillet, cook the ground chicken without adding any oil. This keeps the meat naturally succulent and light. For lean breast meat, stir in about a quarter cup of water to maintain moisture. Cook thoroughly while retaining the juices in the pan as they hold much of the flavor you’ll want to mix in later.

Step 3: Wilt the Red Onions

Remove the cooked chicken from heat and immediately add the thinly sliced red onions. The residual heat gently softens the onions, taking away some of their raw sharpness while keeping a pleasant bite. This step is key to balancing the textures within your Laab Gai – Thai Ground Chicken Salad Recipe.

Step 4: Mix in the Flavors

Add the toasted rice powder, fresh lime juice, fish sauce, and ground Thai chili peppers directly into the chicken mixture. Stir everything together well, then taste and tweak—add more lime for acidity, fish sauce for saltiness, or chili for heat. This is where the magic happens, as the flavors come alive and each ingredient sings in harmony.

Step 5: Finish with Fresh Herbs

Lastly, fold in the whole mint and cilantro leaves. These herbs add vibrant color and lift the dish with their fresh, cooling notes. Once combined, your Laab Gai – Thai Ground Chicken Salad Recipe is ready to serve, bursting with bold flavors and a perfect balance of spice, sour, and herbal freshness.

How to Serve Laab Gai – Thai Ground Chicken Salad Recipe

The dish shows a close-up of a white plate with a textured white marbled surface underneath, featuring minced light brown meat mixed with bright green herbs, thin slices of purple onion, and specks of red chili flakes spread on top. On the left side of the plate, there are fresh cucumber slices with dark green skin and pale green inside, along with wedges of pale yellow cabbage. The minced mixture sits in the center, looking juicy and mixed evenly with the herbs and onions. The background is softly blurred with a hint of green leaves to the top right. The photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

Garnishing Laab Gai with crisp lettuce leaves creates a refreshing crunch and is perfect for wrapping bites of the salad. Thin cucumber slices or extra fresh mint sprigs add cooling elements that help balance out the spice and bring a delightful variety to each mouthful.

Side Dishes

This salad pairs wonderfully with a bowl of sticky jasmine rice or a side of steamed vegetables. The rice absorbs the lively dressing juices and provides a neutral base, making the meal satisfying and well-rounded without overpowering the delicate flavors of the salad itself.

Creative Ways to Present

For a fun twist, serve Laab Gai in individual small bowls nestled inside lettuce cups, or atop sliced avocado for creaminess. You can even use endive leaves as edible spoons. Presentation like this makes it an eye-catching appetizer or a standout main course for gatherings, inviting everyone to dig into bold, fresh flavors.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftovers of Laab Gai – Thai Ground Chicken Salad Recipe, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The salad’s flavors actually deepen overnight, but fresh herbs might wilt slightly. To keep it bright, consider adding a handful of fresh mint and cilantro before serving leftovers.

Freezing

This dish is best enjoyed fresh, as freezing can alter the texture of the cooked chicken and fresh herbs. If you must freeze, separate the cooked chicken portion without herbs or dressing, then defrost gently in the fridge before combining with fresh herbs and seasonings.

Reheating

When reheating, gently warm the chicken mixture in a pan over low heat, avoiding high temperatures that dry it out. Add fresh lime juice and herbs afterward to revive the fresh, zesty notes that make Laab Gai so irresistible.

FAQs

Can I use ground turkey instead of chicken?

Absolutely! Ground turkey works beautifully and provides a similar texture. Just keep an eye on moisture—add a bit of water while cooking if it begins to dry out.

What can I substitute for fish sauce?

If you need a vegetarian option or don’t like fish sauce, try using soy sauce or tamari with a dash of seaweed flakes for a savory umami boost that approximates that complex flavor.

Is toasted rice powder necessary?

Toasted rice powder is traditional and adds that essential nutty crunch and aroma to Laab Gai, but if you don’t have it, you can skip it or use lightly toasted breadcrumbs as a substitute, although the flavor dynamic changes a bit.

How spicy is Laab Gai? Can I adjust the heat?

The heat level is totally customizable. Start with a small amount of ground Thai chili peppers and taste as you go. You can always add more for a fiery kick or reduce it for milder palates.

Can Laab Gai be made vegan?

While Laab Gai traditionally features chicken, you can create a vegan version using crumbled tofu or textured vegetable protein, along with mushroom-based seasonings and plant-based fish sauce alternatives.

Final Thoughts

There you have it—a vibrant, flavorful Laab Gai – Thai Ground Chicken Salad Recipe that brings the best of Thai street food right to your kitchen. It’s fresh, fun, and packed with layers of taste that keep you coming back for more. I promise once you try this, it will hold a special place in your recipe collection and at your dining table. So gather your ingredients, invite some friends over, and dive into this delightful salad experience—you won’t regret it!