Name: Vietnamese Noodle Salad
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients: 8 oz (225g) thin rice vermicelli noodles; 1 lb (450g) cooked shrimp, chicken, or tofu, sliced or cubed; 2 cups shredded lettuce (romaine or green leaf); 1 large cucumber, julienned; 2 medium carrots, peeled and julienned; 1 cup fresh bean sprouts; 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped; 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped; 1/4 cup fresh Thai basil leaves, torn; 1/3 cup crushed roasted peanuts; For nuoc cham dressing: 1/4 cup fish sauce; 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice; 2 tablespoons rice vinegar; 3 tablespoons sugar; 1 clove garlic, minced and 1 Thai chili, finely chopped (optional)

Instructions

Prepare the noodles

Place the rice vermicelli in a large bowl and cover with hot water. Let soak for 5-7 minutes until soft but still slightly firm. Drain thoroughly in a colander, rinse with cold water, and set aside to drain completely.
Make the nuoc cham dressing

In a small bowl, combine fish sauce, lime juice, rice vinegar, sugar, minced garlic, and chopped chili if using. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Taste and adjust flavors if needed - it should be a balance of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy.
Prepare the vegetables

Wash and prep all vegetables. Shred the lettuce into thin strips, julienne the cucumber and carrots, wash the bean sprouts, and roughly chop the herbs. Arrange them on a large platter or keep in separate bowls.
Assemble individual bowls

For each serving, place a portion of noodles in the bottom of a bowl. Arrange the protein (shrimp, chicken, or tofu) and vegetables on top. Add a generous amount of fresh herbs.
Finish and serve

Sprinkle each bowl with crushed peanuts and drizzle with nuoc cham dressing. Alternatively, serve the dressing on the side so each person can add to their taste. Serve immediately while fresh.
Optional garnishes

For additional flavor and texture, offer fried shallots, extra lime wedges, and additional chili slices on the side for guests to add according to their preference.

Vietnamese Noodle Salad

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutritional Information