Delicious Sweet and Sour Chicken and Cabbage Salad Recipe

Chicken and cabbage salad is a refreshing, easy-to-make dish perfect for any meal. With its distinctive sweet and sour flavor, this dish is not only delicious but also helps cool you down effectively. Here’s a detailed guide on how to make a perfect chicken and cabbage salad.

1. Ingredients Needed

To make chicken and cabbage salad, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 500g chicken thighs (or you can substitute with chicken breast)
• 300g cabbage (white or purple cabbage works)
• 1 carrot
• 1 onion
• 1 fresh lemon
• 1 horn pepper
• 1 small piece of ginger
• 1 garlic bulb
• Herbs: Thai basil, Vietnamese coriander, cilantro
• Basic seasonings: fish sauce, sugar, ground pepper, vinegar, salt

Note: Chicken thighs are the ideal choice for a crispier texture. If using chicken breast, be mindful of the boiling time to avoid dryness.

2. Steps to Follow

Step 1: Preparing the Chicken Thighs

• Wash the chicken thighs with diluted salt water, then rinse with cold water.
• Place the chicken thighs in a pot, add some crushed ginger, and boil for about 10-15 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a skewer into the meat; if no red juices run out, the chicken is cooked.
• Remove the chicken, immediately plunge it into a bowl of ice water to firm up the meat. Then, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces.

Shredding chicken thighs

Step 2: Marinating the Chicken

• Place the shredded chicken in a bowl, add 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of ground pepper, and mix well. Marinate for 15-20 minutes to let the flavors soak in.

Step 3: Preparing the Cabbage and Vegetables

• Wash the cabbage, shred it finely, and lightly knead it with 1 teaspoon of salt. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, then squeeze out the water to make the cabbage softer and crisper.
• Peel the onion, wash it, and slice it thinly into wedges. Soak the onion in a mixture of 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of vinegar for 15 minutes, then drain.
• Peel the carrot, wash it, and shred it finely.
• Wash the herbs like Vietnamese coriander, Thai basil, and cilantro, then chop them finely.
• Wash the pepper, mince it finely. Peel the garlic, mince it finely.

Combining white and purple cabbage

Step 4: Making the Salad Dressing

• Mix 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons of water. Stir until the sugar completely dissolves.
• Add the minced garlic and pepper to the fish sauce mixture, and stir well.

Sweet and sour dressing for chicken and cabbage salad

Step 5: Mixing the Chicken and Cabbage Salad

• Place the cabbage, onion, carrot, and herbs in a large bowl. Gradually pour in the salad dressing and mix thoroughly with your hands (wearing gloves) to ensure the flavors are well combined.

Mixing chicken and cabbage salad

Finishing and Enjoying

After mixing, let the salad rest for about 5-7 minutes before serving. The chicken and cabbage salad offers a harmonious sweet and sour taste with a mild spiciness, making it very easy to enjoy. The salad won’t become watery if you prepare the cabbage and onion thoroughly.

Finished chicken and cabbage salad

You can sprinkle some roasted peanuts on top for added richness. The chicken and cabbage salad also pairs well with hot rice or porridge.

Adding roasted peanuts to the chicken and cabbage salad

Conclusion

Making chicken and cabbage salad isn’t overly complicated, but it does require careful preparation. Use the recipe above to create a delicious sweet and sour, refreshing chicken and cabbage salad for your family. Good luck!