Description
A bright and comforting Vietnamese Chicken Salad featuring shredded chicken, vibrant herbs, and a tangy dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 4 cups thinly sliced Napa cabbage
- 1 cup cooked rice vermicelli
- 1 large carrot, julienned
- 1 cucumber, seeded and thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, chopped
- 1 small red chili, thinly sliced (optional)
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prepare the base: In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, sliced cabbage, cooked rice vermicelli, carrot, and cucumber. Toss gently so nothing gets smooshed.
- Make the dressing: Whisk together lime juice, fish sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, oil, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt until the sugar dissolves. Taste and adjust — it should be bright and balanced.
- Dress the salad: Pour half the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Let it sit 3–5 minutes so the cabbage softens just slightly and the flavors marry.
- Finish with herbs and crunch: Add chopped cilantro, mint, and most of the roasted peanuts. Toss again with the remaining dressing if you want a more pronounced flavor.
- Plate and garnish: Transfer to a serving platter and scatter the remaining peanuts and sliced chili over the top. Serve immediately so the noodles are tender and the cabbage still has snap.
Notes
Store salad and dressing separately to avoid sogginess. Use tofu for a vegetarian option by replacing chicken and fish sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Tossing
- Cuisine: Vietnamese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Vietnamese Chicken Salad, Healthy Salad, Quick Dinner, Comfort Food