Ordering Lao Minced Beef Salad (Larb Sien) at a market in Vientiane before boarding a plane with Lao Airlines to Xieng Khouang, Laos.
Larb Sien is a national dish of Laos, typically made with minced beef mixed with crushed roasted sticky rice, crushed roasted chili pepper, shallot, green onion, mint, coriander, lime juice, fermented fish sauce (Padaek; Padek), and regular fish sauce.
The dish is usually served with beef soup, freshly steamed sticky rice, plenty or herbs and fresh vegetables on the side.
