Rice Noodle Salad with Vietnamese Grilled Lemongrass Chicken

I have been on a massive, big salad kick lately (Hello, Greek Fattoush Salad!)and now that it is finally above 60 degrees here in Washington, all I want are big cold salads and anything on the grill. I'm happily caving into to my most recent summer addiction, including this massive rice noodle salad with Vietnamese grilled lemongrass chicken. Salads are what summer is made for.

I was certainly spoiled when I lived in California and Hawaii, but over the last year I've become accustomed to the cooler months in the Pacific Northwest and 60 degrees practically feels like summer now. We've been making it a point to go outside and grill pizza as often as possible! and I even planted plants all around the house and started my first vegetable garden! Do you follow me on Instagram? I am always sharing behind the scenes. So far I have 4 tomato plants (because you know I'll be making bowls of silky smooth gazpacho with them), 2 chiles, kale, rainbow chard and lettuce. I can't wait to see how they turn out throughout the summer!

Now let's chat about this rice noodle salad, shall we? Also called "bun chay", this is a modest inspiration from our favorite Vietnamese spot here in little Bellingham. Pho 99 it's called and during the rainy months, we happily drag ourselves for a huge bowl of hot pho. But in the summer, we are addicted to their noodle bowls. So addicted, that I was insistent on recreating those infamous Vietnamese noodle bowls at home. And, I'll have to say, it honestly hit the spot.

This rice noodle bowl is layered with incredible flavors of sweet and spicy pickled vegetables, which are quite easy to make, might I add. And my favorite part, the slightly sweet and salty Vietnamese grilled lemongrass chicken! The chickens marinade is loaded with fresh lemongrass, ginger and soy sauce and has all of the sweet, salty, umami flavors complementing each other so perfectly.

Layer the sliced Vietnamese grilled chicken over a bed of spring salad greens, rice noodles, fresh tomatoes and for added richness, a perfectly boiled egg. This rice noodle salad is not only beautiful to look at, but is protein packed as well and I can't tell you how many times I've eaten it this month alone. This rice noodle salad with Vietnamese grilled lemongrass chicken will be your new favorite summer dinner. And may I suggest, skewering the chicken and serving in lettuce cups with sriracha for a fun hands on dish.

And just in case you have an extra package of rice noodles laying around, make an extra batch and add to vegetable Spring rolls.

More Hearty salads

Rice Noodle Salad with Vietnamese Grilled Lemongrass Chicken

Samantha Ferraro

LittleFerraroKitchen.com

Your new favorite summer dinner, Rice noodle salad with Vietnamese grilled lemongrass chicken and sweet and spicy pickled vegetables and fresh herbs.

5 from 7 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Asian, Vietnamese

Servings 4 servings

Calories 451 kcal

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

Vinaigrette

• ▢ 2 garlic cloves grated
• ▢ 2 teaspoon grated ginger or about 1 inch of ginger
• ▢ ½ jalapeno or Fresno chopped finely
• ▢ 2 tablespoon brown sugar
• ▢ 1 whole lime zested and juiced
• ▢ 2-3 teaspoon rice vinegar
• ▢ ½ teaspoon - 1 teaspoon fish sauce
• ▢ ½ cup grape-seed or other neutral oil

Pickled Vegetables

• ▢ ¼ c Rice vinegar
• ▢ 2 tbsp. sugar
• ▢ ½ c Water
• ▢ Pinch of salt
• ▢ ½ cup of carrots cut into matchsticks about 2 carrots
• ▢ ½ cup radish cut into matchsticks about 2 radishes
• ▢ ½ cucumber peeled and cut into matchsticks
• ▢ ½ jalapeno or Fresno sliced thin (optional, for added heat)

Lemongrass Chicken

• ▢ 1 large stalk of lemongrass outer leaves removed and chopped
• ▢ 1 Garlic clove roughly chopped
• ▢ ½ inch piece ginger peeled and roughly chopped
• ▢ 2 tablespoon Soy sauce
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Fish sauce
• ▢ 2 tablespoon Brown sugar
• ▢ 1 tsp. sriracha
• ▢ 1 tbsp. grape seed or other neutral oil
• ▢ 2-3 skinless boneless chicken thighs

Salad:

• ▢ 1 package of cooked rice noodles
• ▢ Spring salad greens or favorite salad mix
• ▢ Hard boiled eggs
• ▢ Cherry tomatoes
• ▢ Fresh mint
• ▢ Fresh basil

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Instructions

 

• First make the vinaigrette by whisking all the ingredients in a bowl or shaking in a mason jar. Taste for seasoning and set aside.
• Make the pickled vegetables by whisking together the rice vinegar, sugar, water and salt and add vegetables to mixture. Toss to coat and set aside.
• For the lemongrass chicken, add chopped lemongrass, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, sriracha and oil to a small food processor and blend until smooth. There may be a few larger pieces but that's OK as it all cooks off.
• Add the marinade to the chicken thighs and toss to coat.
• While chicken is marinating, preheat indoor or outdoor grill on high heat and cook chicken for about 4-5 minutes per side and until you have good grill marks.
• Slice chicken into ½ inch slices and arrange on a platter with salad greens, cooked rice noodles, pickled vegetables, tomatoes, boiled egg and fresh herbs and drizzle vinaigrette all over.

Nutrition

Calories: 451kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 13gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 786mgPotassium: 320mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 2749IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1mg

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