Vietnamese Crunch Noodle Salad (Printable)

Vibrant salad with shredded chicken, crisp veggies, rice noodles, and tangy Vietnamese dressing.

# Ingredient list:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (12.3 oz)

→ Noodles

02 - 7 oz dried rice vermicelli noodles

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
04 - 1 cup shredded carrots
05 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
06 - 1 cucumber, julienned
07 - 3 spring onions, thinly sliced
08 - 1 cup bean sprouts

→ Herbs

09 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
10 - 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
11 - 1/4 cup fresh Thai basil leaves (optional)

→ Crunch & Garnish

12 - 1/3 cup roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
13 - 2 tablespoons fried shallots (optional)

→ Dressing

14 - 3 tablespoons fish sauce
15 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
16 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
17 - 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
18 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced
19 - 1 small red chili, finely sliced (optional)
20 - 3 tablespoons water

# Cooking steps:

01 - Prepare rice vermicelli noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
02 - Bring a pot of water to boil. Add chicken breasts and simmer 12 to 15 minutes until fully cooked. Remove and shred using two forks once cooled slightly.
03 - Whisk together fish sauce, lime juice, rice vinegar, brown sugar, minced garlic, chili if using, and water until sugar dissolves.
04 - In a large bowl, mix noodles, shredded chicken, shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, sliced bell pepper, julienned cucumber, sliced spring onions, and bean sprouts.
05 - Add cilantro, mint, and optional Thai basil leaves to the bowl. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss thoroughly to combine.
06 - Top salad with roughly chopped roasted peanuts and optional fried shallots before serving immediately for optimal crunch.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • Tender shredded chicken adds satisfying protein
  • Fresh vegetables and herbs deliver crunch and vibrant flavors
02 -
  • Contains fish sauce and peanuts; caution if allergic
  • For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken with baked tofu and fish sauce with soy sauce
03 -
  • Use freshly chopped herbs for maximum flavor
  • Serve immediately to keep the noodles and veggies crisp
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