Chef Kar Delight

Seasonal Salad Around the World

1.4.4 Asia Vietnam, Cambodia, India

2025/02/26

In Search Of World's Hidden Tastes

1.4.4 Around Asia, Explore Seasonal Salads

More than 2 thousand years ago, Confucius admonished people: " not to eat food that is not in season". Therefore, one should choose food to eat according to the seasons. Chinese traditional food culture said: "In Spring, eat buds; in Summer, eat melons; in Autumn, eat fruits; in Winter, eat roots". Food is seasonal whereas salad is also seasonal.

Now we depart for Vietnam, Cambodia and India, explore their seasonal salads sharing with everyone.

▲ Seasonal Salad 11：

Vietnamese Pulled Chicken Cabbage Salad

Gỏi Gà Bắp Cải

Gà Bắp Cải (Pulled Chicken Cabbage Salad) is very popular salad in Vietnam. It is fragrant and delicious.

In Vietnamese language, Gỏi means salad; Gà means chicken and Bảp Cải is cabbage.

The combination of tender chicken, crunchy cabbage, sweet carrots, and pickled onions is tossed with tangy vinegar brine and topped with crispy shallots and peanuts. It is then served with a side of aromatic dipping sauce to create an impressive medley of textures and flavors.

Fill a wok or pan with water; put in chicken breast; add ginger slices, salt and black pepper. Turn on high fire then lower the fire to braise until done. Cool down chicken with running cold water; shred chicken into thin pieces. Slice thinly cabbage, carrot and red chili pepper. Cut garlic chives into small parts. Put all ingredients in a mixing bowl; add salad dipping sauce; mix well. It is ready to serve.

Ingredients:

Chicken breast (braised and shredded), cabbage, bean sprouts, carrot, Vietnamese coriander (rau răm), roasted peanuts, fried shallots

Salad Dipping Sauce：

Lime juice, palm sugar, fish sauce (nuoc mâm), rice vinegar, garlic chives, red chili pepper, garlic, ginger

▲ Seasonal Salad 12：

Cambodian Beef Salad

Lap Khmer / phlea sach ko

Lap khmer is also called phlea sach ko. It is a traditional salad of Cambodia. It uses thinly slices of marinated beef, vegetables and herbs. It is prepared by mixing all the ingredients. It is colourful , fragrant and delicious.

In Cambodian language, sach ko means beef; phlea is salad.

Ingredients:

Beef steak, green beans, bean sprouts, lemongrass , basil, mint, coriander , red chili pepper, shallots, garlic, lime, shrimp paste, fish sauce, sugar, vegetable oil, water

▲ Seasonal Salad 13：

Indian Kachumber Salad

In India language, Kachumber means "to crush" or "pound".

Kachumber Salad is very popular in India and Pakistan. Its main ingredients are 3 kinds of vegetables, namely, cucumber, tomato and onion. Besides, carrots, radishes, red chili pepper and cilantro are added. There is no special salad dressing. Only lemon juice, salt and black pepper are added. It tastes very refreshing and sweet.

Ingredients:

Cucumber, tomatoes, red onions, carrots, radishes, red chili pepper, cilantro, lemon juice, salt, black pepper