Lahpet Thoke (Tea Leaf Salad) Recipe

Fermented tea leaves: These provide a unique tangy and earthy flavor to the salad.

Shredded cabbage: Adds a fresh and crunchy texture.

Diced tomatoes: Brings a juicy and slightly sweet element.

Fried garlic: Offers a crispy texture and a rich, aromatic flavor.

Roasted peanuts: Adds a nutty crunch and depth to the salad.

Sesame seeds: Enhances the dish with a subtle, toasty flavor.

Fish sauce: Provides a savory, umami taste that complements the other ingredients.

Lime juice: Adds a refreshing, zesty tang to balance the flavors.

When preparing fermented tea leaves for Lahpet Thoke, ensure they are finely chopped to evenly distribute their unique flavor throughout the salad. This helps balance the umami taste of the tea leaves with the crunchiness of the shredded cabbage and roasted peanuts. Additionally, lightly toasting the sesame seeds before adding them to the mix can enhance their nutty aroma, adding another layer of depth to the dish.

• fermented tea leaves - Substitute with pickled green tea leaves: If you can't find traditional fermented tea leaves, pickled green tea leaves can offer a similar tangy and slightly bitter flavor.

• shredded cabbage - Substitute with shredded kale: Kale provides a similar crunch and can hold up well to the dressing, offering a slightly different but still complementary flavor.

• diced tomatoes - Substitute with cherry tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes are sweeter and can add a burst of flavor and color to the salad.

• fried garlic - Substitute with crispy shallots: Crispy shallots provide a similar crunch and a slightly sweeter, milder flavor compared to fried garlic.

• roasted peanuts - Substitute with roasted cashews: Roasted cashews offer a similar crunch and a slightly creamier texture, which can be a pleasant variation.

• sesame seeds - Substitute with sunflower seeds: Sunflower seeds provide a similar nutty flavor and crunch, making them a good alternative.

• fish sauce - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can provide a similar umami flavor, though it lacks the fishy undertone. For a closer match, you can add a bit of anchovy paste to the soy sauce.

• lime juice - Substitute with lemon juice: Lemon juice offers a similar acidity and brightness, making it a suitable substitute for lime juice.

• Store fermented tea leaves separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain their unique flavor and texture.
• Keep the shredded cabbage in a separate container with a damp paper towel to retain its crispness.
• Place diced tomatoes in a sealed container to prevent them from becoming mushy.
• Store fried garlic in an airtight container at room temperature to keep it crunchy.
• Keep roasted peanuts and sesame seeds in separate airtight containers to maintain their freshness and crunch.
• For the fish sauce and lime juice, store them in small, sealed containers in the refrigerator to preserve their flavors.
• When ready to serve, combine all ingredients fresh to ensure the best texture and taste.
• If you need to freeze, avoid freezing the shredded cabbage and diced tomatoes as they can become watery and lose their texture. Instead, freeze the fermented tea leaves in a sealed container.
• To thaw, place the fermented tea leaves in the refrigerator overnight. Combine with fresh ingredients just before serving for optimal flavor and texture.

• Mixing bowl: A large bowl used to combine all the ingredients together.

• Knife: Essential for dicing the tomatoes and shredding the cabbage.

• Cutting board: Provides a stable surface for cutting vegetables.

• Measuring cups: Used to measure out the exact quantities of fermented tea leaves, cabbage, tomatoes, fried garlic, roasted peanuts, and sesame seeds.

• Tablespoon: Necessary for measuring the fish sauce and lime juice.

• Serving plate: Used to present the finished salad.

• Spoon: Helpful for mixing the ingredients thoroughly.

Prep ingredients in advance: Chop the cabbage, dice the tomatoes, and measure out the fermented tea leaves and other ingredients ahead of time.

Use pre-fried garlic: Save time by using store-bought fried garlic instead of frying it yourself.

Batch roast peanuts: Roast a large batch of peanuts and store them for future use.

Ready-made tea leaves: Purchase pre-fermented tea leaves to skip the fermentation process.

Mix in a large bowl: Use a large mixing bowl to combine all ingredients quickly and evenly.