Healthy Vietnamese Shrimp Salad
I’ll share some updates about my A1C numbers soon but this is the salad that helps me maintain good glucose levels. When there’s a craving for something savory, crisp, fresh and healthy we always make our recipe for Vietnamese shrimp salad. It’s a go-to family dish that so many of us “kids’ are gravitating to to satisfy our low carb and glucose friendly healthier lifestyles. As we get older, it’s always this salad without the noodles, please Mom!
Healthy Shrimp Salad with Vietnamese Flavors and Textures
If you’re already a fan of shrimp spring rolls, then this recipe is going to be so much easier. Think of the fresh rice paper spring rolls without the carbs: no rice paper and no noodles. What you’re left with is still a big bowl of goodness: lettuce, herbs, pickles, shrimp and Vietnamese fish sauce as the dressing. Trust us on this one. It’s a great addition to your salad repertoire when you’re looking for something satisfying and flavorful.
Video: Vietnamese Shrimp Salad Recipe
Fish Sauce Based Dressing for Shrimp Salad
We talk a lot about the best fish sauce here. Traditionally we’ve always drizzled a healthy dose of Mom’s fish sauce over the salad. The umami, garlicky and chili based fish sauce is a staple for us. If you’re intimidated a bit with the fish sauce, then you can use soy sauce. But don’t be afraid of fish sauce because there’s magic to this wonderful ingredient. Just use a little less fish sauce in the dressing until you’ve developed a familiarity to the pungent yet dynamic flavors.
- If you’re still a little scared of fish sauce, you can replace it with soy sauce or tamari.
- Add extra lime juice or even a splash of vinegar to help quell the pungent aroma of pure fish sauce.
Cusomize Sweetness of Fish Sauce Dressing for GLP-1 Friendly Diet
Traditionally the Southern Vietnamese fish sauce versions are on the sweet end. Even the Northern versions are becoming a little too sweet for me. I’m always confused as to why so many restaurants feel that they need a sugary sweet dip. But the sugar is a custom choice. Start with my recipe (less sweet) and then you can always add more sugar to your sweetness level. Add our sugar free thai tea to this salad and it’s a meal that doesn’t spike my blood sugar levels!
- Adding a good amount of fresh lime juice really brings in the acidity and brightness to the fish sauce dip.
- Customize your sweetness level with sugar substitutes. I’ll sometimes use a little bit of monkfruit sweetener or even a packet of equal sugar substitute. I like my equal packets that I use for coffee because it’s the perfect amount and equal doesn’t leave a weird aftertaste.
- If you use a sugar substitute in the fish sauce dressing, be aware that some substitutes will crystalize in water (some faster than others). Ones that contain Erythritol, Xylitol, or Sorbitol will tend to crystalize. Ones that are less likely to crystalize, and what we prefer are high-intensity Sweeteners (Stevia, Monk Fruit, Sucralose, Aspartame) or Allulose.
Substitute 1:1 for sugar. We love the taste on this one the most for the sugar-free sweeteners. There is also an organic version.
Substitute 3/4 teaspoon for every 2 teaspoons of sugar. Great organic sugar-free option.
This splenda substitutes an equal 1:1 for sugar.
Healthy Vietnamese Shrimp Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad Assembly
- 1/2 pound raw shrimp , shelled and de-veined
- 1 small cucumber , diced or sliced
- 1 small tomato , diced
- 1/2 cup (80 g) red onion , sliced
- 1/4 cup (10 g) chopped fresh Vietnamese herbs , mint, basil, Viet coriander, lemon mint, perilla
- 2 cups (140 g) (optional) chopped cabbage or lettuce
- 1/4 cup (60 g) chopped peanuts and/or crispy shallots
For the Vietnamese Fish Sauce Dressing
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) fish sauce (brand I use is Flying Lion Phu Quoc)
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) water
- 3 Tablespoons (45 ml) fresh lime juice , or to personal taste
- 3 large garlic cloves (preferably mashed in a mortar and pestle but minced will work fine)
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) sugar , or to personal taste (or equivalent sugar substitute)
- 1-2 fresh thai chiles , to personal taste
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) crushed fresh ginger root (optional)
- splash of vinegar (optional) for extra tang and acidity
Instructions
- Make the Fish Sauce Dressing: Combine all ingredients (1/4 cup fish sauce, 1/2 cup water, 3 Tablespoons lime juice, mashed or minced garlic, 2 teaspoons sugar or equivalent sugar substitute, minced chiles, and optional ginger and/or vinegar) in a bowl and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved. Or in a mason jar, add all ingredients and shake. Taste for flavor and adjust sweetness, lime, chiles to your personal taste. You can store the dressing an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
- In small pot, boil water. Add the raw shrimp and poach for about 3-5 minutes or until shrimp is cooked to your liking. Drain shrimp and allow to cool.
- (Optional) Slice the shrimp lengthwise if you want. Many Viet restaurants do this for easier eating.
- In a bowl, add cucumber, tomato, red onion, and herbs. If you prefer more salad, add some optional chopped cabbage or lettuce. Top with the shrimp. Toss everything together.
- Drizzle fish sauce dressing over the shrimp salad.
- Add some chopped peanuts and/or crispy shallots. enjoy!
Video
Nutrition Information per Serving
Easy Shrimp and Chicken Recipes
- Air Fryer Garlic Shrimp recipe is so quick and simple.
- Sriracha Shrimp Cocktail
- Have you tried making shrimp cocktail in the air fryer?
- Everyday chicken vegetable soup in 30 minutes
- Vietnamese shrimp patty noodle bowls
