Zesty Vietnamese Chicken Salad with Herbs and Crunch
This vibrant Vietnamese Chicken Salad is the ultimate summer dish that bursts with flavor and freshness! The salad features tender, shredded chicken paired with a medley of crisp vegetables and fragrant herbs, all brought together by a tangy and spicy dressing. Perfect for warm weather gatherings or light lunches, this salad is not only satisfying but also easy to prepare. Using precooked chicken saves time, making it a convenient choice for busy days. You'll find that the contrasting textures of crunchy cabbage, succulent chicken, and roasted peanuts create an irresistible combination. Enjoy this culinary journey to Vietnam right from your kitchen!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
17
Ingredients
Ingredients
Chicken breast halves
4 (can use any precooked chicken, roasted and sliced)
Chili-garlic sauce
1 tablespoon (or chili paste)
Garlic
1 clove (minced)
Sugar
3 tablespoons (none)
Rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons (none)
Lime juice
6 tablespoons (freshly squeezed)
Fish sauce
4 tablespoons (none)
Peanut oil
6 tablespoons (none)
Savoy cabbage
1 head (shredded or chiffonade)
Fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup (finely chopped)
Fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 cup (finely chopped)
Red onion
1 small (thinly sliced lengthwise)
Fresh red hot chili pepper
1 small (diced)
Seedless cucumber
1/2 (julienned)
Carrots
2 large (julienned)
Red bell pepper
1 (julienned)
Roasted peanuts
1/2 cup (roughly chopped)
Instructions
1
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then roast in the oven for about 20-25 minutes or until cooked through. Let them cool before handling.
2
While the chicken is cooling, prepare the dressing. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the chili-garlic sauce, minced garlic, sugar, rice wine vinegar, lime juice, fish sauce, and peanut oil until the ingredients are well combined and the sugar has dissolved. Set aside.
3
Once the chicken has cooled, remove the meat from the bones and slice each breast thinly on the bias.
4
In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, chopped mint, and cilantro. Add half of the dressing and toss well until evenly coated.
5
Arrange the cabbage mixture on a large serving platter or divide it into four individual plates.
6
Top the salad with sliced red onion, julienned cucumber, carrots, red bell pepper, and the sliced chicken.
7
Drizzle the remaining dressing over the top of the salad. Finish with a sprinkle of chopped roasted peanuts and a few additional cilantro sprigs for garnish.
8
Serve immediately and enjoy this refreshing meal!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Zesty Vietnamese Chicken Salad with Herbs and Crunch?
This is a vibrant summer dish featuring tender shredded chicken, crisp vegetables, and fragrant herbs tossed in a tangy and spicy dressing.
What are the primary ingredients in the dressing?
The dressing consists of chili-garlic sauce, minced garlic, sugar, rice wine vinegar, lime juice, fish sauce, and peanut oil.
How should the chicken be prepared if starting from raw?
Season chicken breast halves with salt and pepper, then roast in a 400°F (200°C) oven for 20-25 minutes until cooked through.
Can I use precooked chicken for this recipe?
Yes, using any precooked, roasted, and sliced chicken is a great way to save time.
What kind of cabbage is recommended?
The recipe calls for one head of Savoy cabbage, shredded or cut into a chiffonade.
Which herbs are used in the salad?
The salad uses a half cup each of finely chopped fresh mint leaves and fresh cilantro leaves.
What is the first step in assembling the salad?
The first step is to combine the shredded cabbage, chopped mint, and cilantro in a large bowl and toss with half of the prepared dressing.
How should the chicken be sliced?
Once the chicken has cooled, remove the meat from the bones and slice each breast thinly on the bias.
What vegetables provide the crunch in this dish?
Crunch is provided by Savoy cabbage, julienned carrots, seedless cucumber, and red bell pepper.
Is this salad spicy?
Yes, it has a spicy element from the chili-garlic sauce in the dressing and a diced fresh red hot chili pepper.
How much fish sauce is needed?
The recipe requires 4 tablespoons of fish sauce for the dressing.
What type of vinegar is used?
Two tablespoons of rice wine vinegar are used to give the dressing its tangy flavor.
What is the oven temperature for the chicken?
The oven should be preheated to 400°F or 200°C.
How many carrots are included?
The recipe uses two large carrots that have been julienned.
How is the red onion prepared?
One small red onion should be thinly sliced lengthwise.
What kind of oil should be used in the dressing?
Six tablespoons of peanut oil are recommended for the dressing.
How much lime juice is required?
The recipe calls for 6 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lime juice.
Are there any nuts in the salad?
Yes, the salad is garnished with 1/2 cup of roughly chopped roasted peanuts.
What can I substitute for chili-garlic sauce?
You can use chili paste as a substitute for chili-garlic sauce.
How do I prepare the cucumber?
Use 1/2 of a seedless cucumber and cut it into julienned strips.
What color bell pepper is used?
One julienned red bell pepper is included in the salad.
When should the salad be served?
The salad should be served immediately after assembly to enjoy the fresh textures.
How is the salad presented?
Arrange the cabbage mixture on a platter, top with vegetables and chicken, drizzle with remaining dressing, and garnish with peanuts and cilantro.
How many cloves of garlic are in the dressing?
One minced garlic clove is added to the dressing mixture.
Is sugar included in the recipe?
Yes, 3 tablespoons of sugar are whisked into the dressing until dissolved.
What provides the fragrance in this dish?
The fragrant aroma comes from the combination of fresh mint, cilantro, and the aromatic dressing.
Is the salad suitable for a light lunch?
Yes, it is described as a satisfying and healthy choice for light lunches or warm weather gatherings.
What kind of chicken pieces are used?
The recipe specifies four chicken breast halves.
How should the peanuts be prepared?
The peanuts should be roasted and roughly chopped before being sprinkled on top.
What tags are associated with this recipe?
Tags include vietnamese salad, chicken salad, fresh salad, summer dish, healthy recipe, herb salad, and cabbage salad.