Minced Pork Salad (Laab)

• 1 tablespoon white rice
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 8 ounces ground pork
• 1 ounce shallot (about 1/2 large shallot), thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne or other spicy chile powder
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped mint leaves
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
• 1 cucumber, cut in half crosswise then each half cut into quarters

1. Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add the rice and toast, stirring constantly, until the rice turns barely golden, about 4 minutes.
3. Turn the rice into a bowl and let cool.
4. When cool, pulverize in a clean spice grinder or coffee mill, or with a mortar and pestle.
5. In a small saucepan, dissolve the salt and sugar in the water over medium heat.
6. Add the pork and simmer, stirring frequently, until the pork is just cooked, about 5 minutes.
7. Turn off the heat and add the shallot, lime juice, cayenne, fish sauce, mint, cilantro and the reserved rice powder.
8. Place the pork salad on a platter and serve with cucumber spears.

white rice, kosher salt, sugar, water, ground pork, shallot, lime juice, cayenne, fish sauce, mint leaves, cilantro, cucumber

Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/minced-pork-salad-laab (may not work)