Air Fryer Crispy Rice Salad is inspired by the traditional Lao dish nam khao tod, the original crispy rice salad that sparked today’s crispy rice trend. Instead of deep-frying, this version uses the air fryer to create an ultra-crispy texture with a lighter feel. The finished dish is bright, crunchy, and tangy, and perfect for scooping into fresh lettuce wraps.

Lao food is mostly known for eating sticky rice for every meal, but there are a few times jasmine rice is eaten like this Lao crispy fried rice called nam khao. It is made with jasmine rice balls coated in curry and herbs then deep fried; the fried rice balls are broken and mixed with fish sauce, som moo soured pork, herbs, and roasted peanuts. This is a common Lao dish brought over to celebrations and gatherings. It is typically eaten as a lettuce wrap with added fried peppers.