Northern Vietnamese Purple Cabbage Salad Recipe

Purple cabbage salad is a light, nutritious dish that embodies the traditional flavors of Northern Vietnam. With a harmonious blend of fresh ingredients and a simple preparation method, this dish is not only perfect for family meals but also an ideal choice for vegetarian occasions. Let’s explore the detailed recipe to make Northern Vietnamese purple cabbage salad right at home.

1. Ingredients

To make Northern Vietnamese purple cabbage salad for 4 servings, you will need the following ingredients:

• Purple cabbage: 300 grams
• Carrot: 1
• Fried tofu: 2 pieces
• Dried shiitake mushrooms: 50 grams (soaked)
• Onion: ½
• Fresh herbs (cilantro, basil): a small bunch
• Crushed roasted peanuts: 50 grams
• Cooking oil: 2 tablespoons
• Rice vinegar: 2 tablespoons
• Granulated sugar: 2 tablespoons
• Salt: 1 teaspoon

Main ingredients for purple cabbage salad

2. Preparation Steps

Preparing the Ingredients

• Purple cabbage: Wash thoroughly, slice thinly, and soak in diluted salt water for about 5 minutes. Rinse with clean water and drain.
• Carrot: Peel, wash, and shred into thin strips.
• Fried tofu: Cut into bite-sized pieces. For extra crispiness, you can fry them again briefly.
• Shiitake mushrooms: Soak until soft, rinse, and remove the stems. Slice into thin strips.
• Onion: Peel, wash, and slice thinly into wedges. Soak the onion in ice water for about 10 minutes to reduce its sharpness.
• Fresh herbs: Pick through, wash, and let drain.

Preparing the ingredients

Making the Dressing

• In a bowl, combine: 2 tablespoons of rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir until the sugar and salt are completely dissolved.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a pan, sauté minced garlic and onion until fragrant, then pour this mixture into the dressing bowl. Stir well to create a rich dressing.

Mixing the Salad

• Place purple cabbage, carrot, onion, shiitake mushrooms, and tofu in a large bowl.
• Gradually pour the dressing over the ingredients, using gloves or chopsticks to mix thoroughly, ensuring all ingredients are well-coated with the dressing.
• Let the salad sit for about 10 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

Presenting the purple cabbage salad

3. Finished Product

The Northern Vietnamese purple cabbage salad, with its vibrant colors and harmonious sweet and sour flavors, will delight you and your family. The crunchy purple cabbage combined with sweet carrots, aromatic shiitake mushrooms, and rich tofu creates an enticing dish. You can sprinkle crushed roasted peanuts and fresh herbs on top to enhance the flavor.

For a variation, you can add other ingredients like bean curd sticks, king oyster mushrooms, or watercress to make the salad more diverse.

4. Conclusion

With this simple and easy-to-follow recipe for Northern Vietnamese purple cabbage salad, you can prepare a light yet appealing dish for your family. Save this recipe and try it out today to bring new culinary experiences to your loved ones!

To make the dish perfect, don’t forget to choose fresh ingredients from reputable stores. Wishing you success and enjoyable meals!