Ingredients

  • 1 bunch fresh cilantro with roots
  • 1 bunch fresh mint
  • 1/2 small head white or green cabbage (about 1 pound)
  • 2 small shallots
  • 10 ounces lean ground pork
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons bread crumbs
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce (preferably naam pla)
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne

Method

  • Chop enough cilantro and mint leaves to measure 2 tablespoons each. Discard tough stems from remaining cilantro and mint and arrange sprigs on a platter. Cut cabbage lengthwise into 4 wedges and cut out core. Arrange wedges on platter. Thinly slice shallots lengthwise.
  • In a small saucepan with a fork stir together pork and 2 tablespoons lime juice and cover with cold salted water. Bring pork to a simmer, stirring with fork to break up meat, and gently simmer until just cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes. In a sieve drain pork well and in a bowl toss with shallots, chopped herbs, bread crumbs, fish sauce, cayenne, and remaining lime juice to taste.
  • Transfer pork salad to a serving bowl and put on platter. Have guests serve themselves: Arrange sprigs of cilantro and mint on pieces of cabbage and spoon some pork salad on top. Close cabbage around mixture to eat.
  • Each serving about 215 calories and 12 grams fat.
  • Serves 4 as part of a Thai menu.
  • Gourmet
  • Low Fat & Delicious
  • June 1999