Nha Trang’s Delicious Anchovy Salad Recipe

Nha Trang’s anchovy salad is a famous delicacy known for its harmonious blend of sour and spicy flavors, fresh and sweet fish combined with aromatic herbs and savory dipping sauce. Let’s explore how to make this enticing dish at home.

Ingredients Needed

Image of anchovy salad ingredients by Hoài Thủy

• Fresh anchovies: 200 grams
• Onion: 1 bulb (about 50 grams)
• Fresh chili: 5 pieces
• Garlic: 6 cloves
• Lemongrass: 5 stalks
• Rice paper for wrapping: 1 stack
• Fresh limes: 2
• Cucumbers: 2
• Lettuce, cilantro, fish mint, perilla
• Seasonings: sugar, salt, MSG, fish sauce, peanuts

How to Make Nha Trang’s Anchovy Salad

Making the Dipping Sauce for Anchovy Salad

The dipping sauce is crucial for the deliciousness of the anchovy salad. To achieve a flavorful sauce:

• Dissolve 30 grams of ripe tamarind in 30 ml of boiling water, strain to get the tamarind juice
• Mix well the following: 1/2 teaspoon chopped chili + 1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic + 1 tablespoon fish sauce + 1 tablespoon crushed peanuts + 1 tablespoon sugar + 1/4 teaspoon MSG + tamarind juice

Image of dipping sauce by Hoài Thủy

Preparing the Ingredients

• Clean the anchovies, remove the scales, head, and tail, and debone
• Wash the herbs thoroughly and let them dry
• Peel the cucumbers and cut them into long strips
• Slice the onion into thin rings
• Finely chop the garlic and chili

Making the Anchovy Salad

1. Marinate the anchovies with lime juice to partially cook them
2. Arrange the anchovies on a plate, add shredded ginger, onion, and thinly sliced lemongrass
3. Sprinkle with roasted peanuts and fried shallots
4. When serving, mix the anchovies with the ingredients and wrap with rice paper and fresh herbs

Final Product Requirements and Enjoyment

A perfect anchovy salad must meet these criteria:

• The fish should be white, firm, and not fishy
• A light sourness from lime, spiciness from chili, and fragrance from the herbs
• The dipping sauce should be rich, balancing the flavors of sour-spicy-salty-sweet

When enjoying, wrap the anchovy salad with a variety of fresh herbs and dip in the tamarind fish sauce to fully savor the distinctive taste of this Nha Trang dish.

Tips and Notes

• Choose fresh anchovies with clear eyes and firm bodies for the best taste
• Avoid marinating with lime juice for too long to prevent the fish from drying out
• Adjust the spiciness according to your preference
• Prepare a full range of aromatic herbs to enhance the flavor

With the detailed instructions above, you can confidently make an authentic Nha Trang anchovy salad. Try it out and share your results with your loved ones!