Lolot leaf ✦

Feuille de lolot (lá lốt)

What it is

Lolot is sold across Europe as wild betel leaf, but it is a different pepper: true betel is chewed with lime and areca nut and is never grilled. In bò lá lốt the leaf is wrapped around seasoned minced beef, and the aroma only arrives when the outside chars.

In the kitchen

Roll the leaf around the filling shiny side out and pin the seam with the stem or a bamboo splinter. Grill one to two minutes a side over a hard fire — a gentle one dries the leaf out before it ever scorches.

Goes with

Beef Lemongrass Fish sauce Peanut Rice paper (bánh tráng) Garlic

Same species

Ashanti pepper Black pepper Cubeb pepper Green peppercorn Hoja santa Long pepper

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