Vietnamese Salad is a vibrant, refreshing dish that’s bursting with fresh flavors and crunchy textures. This salad combines crisp vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and cucumbers with fragrant herbs such as cilantro and mint, all tossed in a light and tangy lime-fish sauce dressing. Topped with peanuts for extra crunch and optionally some grilled protein like chicken or shrimp, this salad is perfect as a healthy lunch, side dish, or light dinner. The balance of sweet, sour, salty, and savory elements makes it a quintessential example of Vietnamese cuisine.
Ingredients:
For the salad:
- 2 cups shredded cabbage
- 1 cup carrots, julienned or grated
- 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, crushed
- 1 red chili, thinly sliced (optional for heat)
- Grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu (optional for added protein)
For the dressing:
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions:
- Prepare the vegetables: In a large bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, carrots, cucumber, mint, cilantro, and red chili (if using).
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the fish sauce, lime juice, rice vinegar, sugar, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes until the sugar dissolves.
- Toss the salad: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss everything together until well coated. Add the grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu if using.
- Garnish and serve: Top the salad with crushed peanuts and serve immediately.
This Vietnamese Salad is a refreshing, flavorful dish perfect for a light meal or a side, offering a delicious balance of fresh, crunchy vegetables and a tangy, savory dressing!
