There are some special ways of eating Thai food and so, if you know how to eat lap, you can enjoy this Thai specialty at its best. But, before exploring how to eat lap, understand that this popular dish in Thailand is known by several other alternative names as well. Lap in Thailand is also known as lab, larp, laap, and larb. Lab is actually a typical Lao meat salad which is widely eaten in Thailand. 

Exploring the Thai Lao meat salad

You can eat lap with different ingredients. Salads are always the most versatile platters and the same concept holds true for this Thai salad too. The first variation can come in the type of meat. For example, you can eat lap with chicken, duck or turkey. In some places in Thailand, lap is also prepared with beef or pork. If you are a fish lover, then you can also prepare and relish this wonderful salad dish with fish like it’s eaten by some Thai people. Usually, Thais love eating lap dressed with fish sauce and lime juice. Then, of course there are these assorted mix of Thai veggies and leaves to make the lap complete. You can either eat the lap meat cooked or have it simple and raw. Moreover, you can mince the meat if you like. If you love slightly hot and spicy salads, then eat the lap mixed with chilies. Mint is also popularly added in the lap recipe. Apart from the meat and the veggies, the other most important component of lap is kao kua. Kao kua is the rice that has been roughly ground and toasted. 

Eating lap in different preparations

If you know the various lap preparations you will know how to eat lap in different ways. Traditionally, lap is served and eaten at room temperature. Also, in Thailand it is customary to serve lap with sticky rice. A popular variation of lap is neu-ah nam tok. Neu-ah nam tok means waterfall beef. This dish is also widely eaten in Thailand and the dish is named so because when the meat is grilled, the juice of the meat keeps dripping. While the meat in lap is usually minced or ground, the meat used in waterfall beef or neu-ah nam tok is usually in thin strips. Larb pla is another popular variation of lap prepared with fish and spices. Lu is yet another lab, which may not be liked much by foreign eaters like you and me, if we are not very daring eaters. Lu is prepared with raw beef mixed with spices, blood and bile. You can eat Lu with vegetables. In Thailand, Lu is often served with lao khao or local moonshine.

Picture Source: menuism.com