This Vietnamese Cabbage Chicken Salad is light, vibrant, and packed with fresh flavour—the kind of dish that tastes like summer in every bite. Naturally gluten free and filled with crisp veggies, tender chicken, and a tangy-sweet dressing, it’s perfect for entertaining or a quick, healthy dinner. I return to this recipe every summer, and once you try it, you’ll see why.
I make this salad in the summer and serve it with an easy summer dessert like grilled peaches or grilled fruit skewers. If I wanted to serve more dishes I might add these spicy Asian meatballs and/or salad rolls.
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Ingredients
A seasonal approach to cooking naturally adds new dishes to your menus as the produce comes into season. The produce itself is the reminder for me to repeat favourite dishes I love.
- Thai bird chile or jalapeno
- garlic
- sugar
- rice vinegar
- lime juice
- fish sauce
- vegetable oil
- onion
- chicken
- green & purple cabbage
- carrot
- fresh mint & cilantro
- peanuts
See recipe card for exact amounts.
More Recipes Using Nuoc Cham
I make these three recipes with nuoc cham dipping sauce. Each recipe is slightly different as I've gathered them over decades of cooking. Feel free to mix and match with these recipes and other favourites you already make.
- A unique Vietnamese recipe for Pork in Tomato Sauce served on a bed of crunchy lettuce and warm rice. The nuoc cham finishes the dish perfectly!
- Vietnamese Salad Rolls, those fresh rice paper rolls sometimes served with hoisin sauce or peanut sauce. Nuoc cham is the authentic dipping sauce for these!
- My Vietnamese Rice Noodle Bowl is like the salad rolls in a bowl with protein on top. It's in the category of worth the effort, you simply pour the nuoc cham right on top and dig in!
A Canadian Celiac Podcast
Thanks to Sue Jennett for sharing this photo of her version of my Vietnamese Chicken Salad. Sue is the host of A Canadian Celiac podcast and I'm a follower of hers. Listening to podcasts is a great way to keep up with the changes in the gluten free space. The only thing we know for sure is that things are always changing so continuous learning needs to be part of a gluten free lifestyle.
Top Tip: Grow Fresh Herbs
Many herbs are easy to grow and mint is one of them. You don't need a green thumb or even a garden. Put a pot on the deck with a small mint plant in the spring and enjoy mint all summer. The one time cost is about the same price as a single package of fresh mint at the store.
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Vietnamese Cabbage Chicken Salad
Ingredients
DRESSING
- 1 Thai bird chile*, seeded and finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoon lime juice
- 3 tablespoon fish sauce
- 3 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- freshly ground black pepper
SALAD
- 2 small chicken breasts, cooked and shredded (about 2 cups)
- 2 cups shredded green cabbage
- 2 cups shredded purple cabbage
- 1 cup shredded carrot
- ½ cup shredded fresh mint
GARNISH
- cilantro sprigs
- fresh mint sprigs
- ¼ cup crushed peanuts
Instructions
DRESSING
- Combine all dressing ingredients. Set aside for 30 minutes.
SALAD
- Fill a large frying pan with water and bring to boil over high heat.
- Add chicken, put lid on and turn heat down to maintain a low boil. Poach for 10 minutes, turn chicken and continue poaching until cooked through, another 10 minutes depending on the thickness. Remove from water and cool.
- While still warm shred the meat using 2 forks or cut into thin slices.
- In a large mixing bowl combine chicken, cabbage, carrot and mint. Sprinkle dressing over and toss well. Transfer salad to serving platter or plates.
- Garnish with cilantro springs, mint and chopped peanuts.
Notes
Nutrition
More Recipes with Nuoc Cham Dipping Sauce and Fresh Mint
- Vietnamese Pork in Tomato Sauce is a unique, healthy summer dinner. Nuoc cham is sprinkled on top at the table and it's a must try if you like Vietnamese cuisine!
- Nuoc Cham is the secret dipping sauce for Vietnamese Salad Rolls.
- Add fresh mint leaves to this Thai Pork and Vegetable Curry just before serving.
- Thai Turkey Burgers
- Make ice cubes with fresh mint and put them in any summer drink.
- Add small bouquets of mint to a summer table.
- Cut long stems of mint and add them to a bouquet of herbs or flowers for a summer table.
Steshni Corea
would love to try a vegetarian version of this!
Cinde Little
Agreed Steshni! This is a perfect recipe for canned young jackfruit. Let me know if you try it.