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Laphet - Tea Leaf Salad

 


Laphet Thoke or Tea Leaf Salad is not only the most famous and adored of all Burmese salads, it holds a significant cultural importance. Highly regarded as the king of all leaves, laphet is a perfect appetizer, snack, dessert, palate cleanser, stimulant, and can even become a full course meal with just a bowl of hot steamed rice. Laphet serves as a centerpiece for all events, from peace-making and sealing the deals to asking for the bride's hand and the list goes on. 

Juvenile tea leaves, usually two leaves and a bud, are hand picked and fermented over two weeks. At the end of natural fermentation, they are flavored with salt, lime juice, garlic, green chilies and submerged in fragrant peanut oil. Because laphet is predominantly delicate, crunchy-toasty bites of peanuts, sesame seeds, and garlic chips are a must, for contrast of textures. The brines of fish sauce and dried shrimp temper the slightly bitter tea leaves interlocked with loud punches from chilies, garlic, and lime juice while a thatch of shredded cabbage, tomatoes and sweet corn enlivens every layer of the salad. This salad is unique because of the bold flavors of tea leaves but it is addicting because each component enhances, highlights and respects the uniqueness of laphet. Though there's no strict restriction to be part of the laphet team but careful not to overpower the team captain. 

No matter when or why you opt for laphet, each strand of these pickled leaves will slowly excite our palates and ignite the happy stations in our brains till we all joyously ascend to laphet heaven.











INGREDIENTS

  • 3 tbsp. Laphet or fermented tea leaves, unflavored

  • 1 tbsp. Peanut oil

  • 1 tsp. Fish sauce

  • 1 tsp. Lime juice

Fresh Ingredients

  • ¼ cup cabbage, shredded

  • 2 Roma Tomatoes or 10 grape tomatoes, thinly sliced

  • 3 fresh green Chilies, chopped (adjust according to your spice tolerance)

Crispies

  • 2 tbsp. fried or roasted Peanuts

  • 1 tbsp. Sesame seeds, toasted till fragrant and golden

  • 4 cloves of Garlic, sliced and deep fried till golden and crispy

  • 2 tbsp. Dried shrimps

  • 2 tbsp. dried Lima beans, deep fried till golden and crispy

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Flavor the laphet with peanut oil, fish sauce and lime juice.

  • In a bowl, add and thoroughly toss all ingredients together.

Serving seperately

On top of a bed of cabbage, put flavored laphet in the center and arrange the rest of the ingredients out nicely.

Pick and eat as you like!








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