https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/spicy-vietnamese-salad-with-garlicky-shrimp • Posted by Christine R.
This is a salad, but don’t let it fool you. It makes a great meal and packs a wallop of flavor. There’s rice noodles, spinach, carrots, cilantro, and a flavorful dressing. I like to add avocado – I’m pretty sure avocado is not a traditional Vietnamese ingredient but I personally think it fits in just fine with the rest of them. And to top it off, shrimp sauteed in lots of garlic. I used to live in the Twin Cities and there were a plethora of Vietnamese restaurants to choose from. But, a few years ago I returned to my rural roots. Vietnamese restaurants are a little hard to come by in rural Minnesota. Finding some pho would mean a four hour round trip these days. Luckily, creating some of the staples that you’d find in your favorite Vietnamese restaurants is totally do-able at home. This Spicy Vietnamese Salad with Garlicky Shrimp is definitely one of my favorites!
This is a salad, but don’t let it fool you. It makes a great meal and packs a wallop of flavor. There’s rice noodles, spinach, carrots, cilantro, and a flavorful dressing. I like to add avocado – I’m pretty sure avocado is not a traditional Vietnamese ingredient but I personally think it fits in just fine with the rest of them. And to top it off, shrimp sauteed in lots of garlic. I used to live in the Twin Cities and there were a plethora of Vietnamese restaurants to choose from. But, a few years ago I returned to my rural roots. Vietnamese restaurants are a little hard to come by in rural Minnesota. Finding some pho would mean a four hour round trip these days. Luckily, creating some of the staples that you’d find in your favorite Vietnamese restaurants is totally do-able at home. This Spicy Vietnamese Salad with Garlicky Shrimp is definitely one of my favorites!
For the toppings: Grate the carrot, chop 2 cups spinach and 1 cup cilantro, and slice 1 avocado into pieces.
For the dressing: Mix 1 Tbsp. Sambal Oelek, the juice of 1 lime, 1/2 cup water, 1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar, and 2 Tbsp. fish sauce in a small bowl. Stir to combine.
For the shrimp: Mince 8 cloves garlic. Heat pan to medium high and add 1 Tbsp. cooking oil. Saute garlic until fragrant - about 2 minutes. Add shrimp to pan and add a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook shrimp until opaque - about 2 minutes on each side.
Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside. Place noodles in bowl and top with spinach, cilantro, carrots, and avocado. Pour a few tablespoons of dressing over noodles and vegetables. Top with cooked shrimp.