Crispy skin marinated chicken, crunchy fresh veg, fragrant herbs. With a spicy, sweet, salty and sour dressing to tie it all together. This is a light and super easy salad. The taste of Vietnam at home.
Serves 2
What you need...
One large chicken breast skin on (skinless if you prefer)
2 garlic cloves minced
1 inch of finely chopped lemongrass (white part)
1 teaspoon of ground turmeric
Salt and pepper
Veg oil
150g Rice noodles uncooked (vermicelli)
Fresh herbs (Vietnamese mint, coriander, mint)
Julienne carrot (as much as you want)
Julienne cucumber (as much as you want)
Crispy shallots (as much as you want)
Shredded baby cos (as much as you want)
50ml lime juice
50ml fish sauce
50ml rice wine vinegar
150g caster sugar
1 red chilli finely diced
What you do...
One. Preheat oven to 190 degrees celsius.
Two. To marinate the chicken. In a mortar and pestle bash together half of the garlic, lemongrass, turmeric, salt, pepper and a splash of oil until you get a paste. Rub over the chicken and leave for at least an hour.
Three. For the dressing. In a small sauce pan heat the lime juice, fish sauce, rice wine vinegar and sugar until sugar has dissolved. Let cool slightly then add the chilli and the rest of the garlic. Set aside
Four. Cook rice noodles for approx 4 minutes (or whatever the packet says) then cool under cold water to stop noodles from cooking. Set aside.
Five. To cook the chicken. Place a frying pan onto a medium high heat with a little oil. When the pan is just warm add the chicken skin side down. Let the skin crisp up. Check the skin and if not crisp keep skin on heat longer. Once skin is crisp turn the breast and place in the oven either in the pan (if its oven proof) or on a tray. Cook for approx 10-15mins. Until chicken is fully cooked through. Let the breast rest for 5 mins. Then slice breast into thin even pieces.
Six. To assemble. In a bowl. Place noodles across the bottom. In sections place the herbs, carrot, cucumber, lettuce, crispy shallots and chicken.
Seven. When ready to eat pour dressing over bowl. Eat with chop sticks!
Notes...
You can quite easily change chicken for grilled pork, seafood, sliced beef or tofu.