Ingredients:
3 tablespoons long grain rice
1 lb lean ground beef
5 shallots, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons minced fresh mint leaves
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper ( to taste)
romaine lettuce leaves
1 cup bean sprouts, rinsed,well-drained,and tips removed
1/2 green bell peppers, cut into thin strips
3 fresh Thai red chili peppers, cut into strips (optional)
Directions:
Heat a heavy skillet over high heat; add raw rice; cook, stirring, and shaking pan, for 3 minutes, or until golden.
Cool rice slightly; blend to a coarse powder in a blender or spice mill.
Stir-fry meat, shallots, and garlic till meat is browned; drain off all excess fat.
Stir in rice powder, lemon juice, fish sauce, soy sauce, mint, sugar, and cayenne pepper.
Mound meat in the center of serving tray; arrange romaine leaves and bean sprouts on either side of meat.
Garnish with bell peppers, mint sprigs, and chili slivers.
Serve with additional soy sauce or fish sauce, if desired.
To eat, use romaine leaves to scoop up the meat, top with sprouts, peppers, mint, and any extra sauce.
Servings: 4-5
Time preparation: 10 min.
Time total: 28 min.