Quick 'n Easy Vietnamese Chicken Salad

Submitted by bluemoon downunder

"This light and refreshing Vietnamese Chicken Salad is really quick to make. It can be eaten alone as a light meal or served as a main meal, over steamed rice. Because I don't like my food too spicy, I omit the chilli, but I've left it in the ingredients listed. Some will no doubt want to increase the spiciness. When serving it to others, I've doubled the recipe and made two versions: one spicy, one not. And been very careful not to mix them up, by putting them in colour-coded serving bowls! Both versions have been eaten with enthusiasm, both by those who are familiar with Vietnamese cuisine and those who are not. Adapted from Lulu Grimes' book "Food: buy it fresh: Cook: cook it simply; Eat: eat it now". If you are serving this salad to guests, and planning ahead, it's worth going to an Asian greengrocer's and buying the authentic ingredients."

 

• Ready In: 15mins
• Ingredients: 11
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts or 2 chicken thighs, cooked, boned, skinned, roughly shredded
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 2 chilies, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 shallots or 1/2 red onion, finely sliced
• 2 cups bean sprouts
• 2 cups Chinese cabbage or 2 cups savoy cabbage, shredded
• 4 tablespoons vietnamese mint or 4 tablespoons mint, finely chopped

directions

1. Mix together the lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, ginger, chilli, garlic and shallots (or red onion).
2. Plunge the bean sprouts into boiling water for 10 seconds, drain them and rinse under cold water to stop them from cooking any further.
3. Mix the bean sprouts with the Chinese cabbage, Vietnamese mint and chicken.
4. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss all the ingredients together until they are well combined.
5. Serve as a light meal, or as a main dish over steamed rice.

Reviews

[teresas]

What a wonderful refreshing salad. I made as posted with the exception of cooking the bean sprouts I used raw. Loved the flavor with the mint. I couldn't locate Vietnamese mint (OK, I didn't look for it) so used regular mint. This was quick and easy. Thanks for posting. :)

 

[eirego_2000]

I added a little sesame oil to the dressing to give it a nutty flavor...Yum! But, the cabbage is a bit tough raw...I'm wondering if a bit steaming might be good?

 

[KelBel]

This was very delicious. A nice light lunch or dinner. I followed the directions, including the bean sprouts. Ate it over several days, and the bean sprouts stayed crisp, the cabbage got a little soggy. Overall, a tasty addition to a summer salad rotation. Add almonds or raman noodles for a little crunch.

 

[Kittencalrecipezazz]

I made this as stated but omitted the bean sprouts, the dressing from this is wonderful! thanks bluemoon!

 

[echo echo]

I picked this because I had some leftover chicken to use up. I didn't have bean sprouts but had leftover steamed broccoli, so I substituted that for the bean sprouts. And I used regular mint rather than vietnamese mint. The result was great and so, so easy and fast to throw together. What sets this salad apart is the mint and the taste of the dressing, which was light and refreshing.