Vietnamese Crunch Noodle Salad (Printable)

A light, fresh Vietnamese dish with shredded chicken, crunchy vegetables, and aromatic herbs.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 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

# Method:

01 - Cook the rice vermicelli noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water; set aside.
02 - Bring a pot of water to a boil, add chicken breasts, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until fully cooked. Remove from water, let cool slightly, then shred the meat using two forks.
03 - Whisk together fish sauce, lime juice, rice vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, chili (if using), and water in a small bowl until the sugar dissolves.
04 - In a large bowl, toss cooked noodles, shredded chicken, red cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, cucumber, spring onions, and bean sprouts until evenly mixed.
05 - Fold in cilantro, mint, and basil leaves. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients.
06 - Sprinkle chopped peanuts and fried shallots on top just before serving for added crunch.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Light and refreshing meal
  • Easy to prepare
02 -
  • Substitute rotisserie chicken for a quicker version
  • Use baked tofu and soy sauce instead of chicken and fish sauce for a vegetarian option
03 -
  • Prepare noodles ahead and keep them chilled for the best texture
  • Adjust chili amount to your preferred heat level
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