Vietnamese Crispy Carrot and Cabbage Salad with Sliced Chicken and Chile-Lime Marinade

Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse

Watch how to make this recipe.

Vietnamese Crispy Carrot and Cabbage Salad with Sliced Chicken and Chile-Lime Marinade

Name: Vietnamese Crispy Carrot and Cabbage Salad with Sliced Chicken and Chile-Lime Marinade
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H20M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H10M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT3H40M0.000S
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: asian
Ingredients: 6 tablespoons rice vinegar; 3/4 cup cilantro leaves, shredded (stems reserved separately), about 1/2 bunch cilantro; 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts; 7 tablespoons fresh lime juice; 5 tablespoons fish sauce; 3 tablespoons sugar; 2 serrano chiles, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper; 1 teaspoon grated wasabi, optional; 1/2 red onion, very thinly sliced; 4 cups very thinly sliced cabbage; 3 cups julienned carrots; 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, shredded; 1/4 cup fresh Thai basil leaves, shredded; 2 scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal; 1/4 cup finely chopped roasted salted peanuts; Crispy Shallots, recipe follows; Peanut oil, for frying; 2 large shallots, thinly sliced; Salt

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Level: Intermediate
Total: 3 hr 40 min

Prep: 20 min
Inactive: 3 hr 10 min
Cook: 10 min

Yield: 4 servings

Level: Intermediate
Total: 3 hr 40 min

Prep: 20 min
Inactive: 3 hr 10 min
Cook: 10 min

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

6 tablespoons rice vinegar

3/4 cup cilantro leaves, shredded (stems reserved separately), about 1/2 bunch cilantro

1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts

7 tablespoons fresh lime juice

5 tablespoons fish sauce

3 tablespoons sugar

2 serrano chiles, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 teaspoon grated wasabi, optional

1/2 red onion, very thinly sliced

4 cups very thinly sliced cabbage

3 cups julienned carrots

1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, shredded

1/4 cup fresh Thai basil leaves, shredded

2 scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal

1/4 cup finely chopped roasted salted peanuts

Crispy Shallots, recipe follows

Crispy Shallots:

Peanut oil, for frying

2 large shallots, thinly sliced

Salt

Directions

Place the chicken breasts in a medium saucepan and add enough water just to cover. Add 1 tablespoon of the lime juice, 1 tablespoon of the fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of the rice vinegar, and the reserved cilantro stems and bring just to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, partially covered, for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the chicken to sit in the poaching liquid for 45 minutes. Remove the chicken from the liquid and allow it to cool completely. Transfer the chicken to an airtight container and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
In a non-reactive bowl combine the remaining lime juice, fish sauce, rice vinegar, the sugar, chiles, garlic, red pepper, and wasabi, if using, and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
In a large bowl combine the cilantro leaves, onion, cabbage, carrots, mint leaves, and Thai basil leaves and toss to combine. Add 1/3 of the lime-chile mixture and toss. Let stand for 10 minutes, refrigerated, before serving.
Divide the salad evenly among 4 plates. Thinly slice the chicken breasts against the grain and divide evenly among the top of the salads. Garnish with the scallions, peanuts and crispy shallots and serve immediately, with the remaining lime-chile sauce on the side for dressing salads, to taste.

Crispy Shallots:

Yield: 1/3 to 1/2 cup

Preheat the peanut oil to 360 degrees F. Add the sliced shallots, in batches, and fry until golden brown and crispy, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Remove the shallots using a slotted spoon or skimmer and transfer to paper towels to drain. Season with salt to taste.