Vietnamese-Inspired Spring Roll Salad with Peanut Sauce

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Vietnamese-Inspired Spring Roll Salad with Peanut Sauce: A Fresh & Easy Recipe

Do you love the bright, crisp taste of Vietnamese summer rolls but find yourself short on the time or patience required to assemble them? We certainly understand. The delicate rice paper can tear, the fillings can tumble out, and what was meant to be a simple, wholesome meal can feel like an unexpected challenge. But what if we told you there’s a way to savour all that herbaceous goodness and indulgent peanut sauce without any of the rolling? Well, we have some brilliant news.

We’d like to introduce you to what might just become your new go-to meal: the Vietnamese-Inspired Spring Roll Salad with Peanut Sauce. This delightful recipe captures all the essential elements of a classic fresh spring roll—think delicate rice noodles, crunchy vegetables, aromatic herbs, succulent prawns, and that truly unforgettable peanut dressing—and brings them together in one vibrant, satisfying bowl. It’s a wonderfully simple method for enjoying those iconic flavours with minimal effort, making it a superb option for a speedy weeknight dinner or a reviving lunch.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Simple and Speedy: Leave the tricky rolling technique behind. This entire salad can be prepared in less than 30 minutes, which makes it a fantastic choice for those busy days when you crave something both nutritious and flavourful.
A Harmony of Flavours and Textures: We’ve carefully considered each component to create a perfectly balanced dish. You will surely appreciate the interplay between the soft noodles, crisp vegetables, fresh herbs, and the rich, creamy peanut sauce.
Wonderfully Adaptable: Consider this recipe a brilliant starting point. It’s incredibly easy to personalise with your preferred protein, such as grilled chicken or crispy tofu, or to bulk up with additional vegetables from your crisper drawer.
A Truly healthy Asian salad: Filled to the brim with fresh greens, lean protein, and fragrant herbs, this salad is as nourishing as it is delicious. It feels light and hydrating, whilst delivering a fantastic boost of vitamins and nutrients.

What Exactly is a Deconstructed Summer Roll Bowl?

Imagine a fresh summer roll beautifully reimagined in a salad bowl. The idea is wonderfully straightforward: we take all the traditional fillings and serve them loose, generously drizzled with that luscious dressing. This deconstructed summer roll bowl format keeps all the original tastes and textures intact—the cool vermicelli, the crunchy carrots and cucumber, the fragrant mint and coriander—but offers them in a more relaxed and accessible way.

Authentic Vietnamese summer rolls, known as *gỏi cuốn*, are a cherished appetiser celebrated for their refreshing character. As culinary experts at Serious Eats note, they are a perfect example of the Vietnamese food philosophy that champions balance between fresh ingredients and contrasting textures. Our salad bowl pays homage to that principle while adding a convenient, modern spin that we think you’ll find perfect for any day of the week.

Essential Ingredients for Your Salad Bowl

The magic of this salad is rooted in its fresh, uncomplicated ingredients. Here is everything you will need to put together this colourful meal, which we have organised into logical groups.

For the Salad Base

Rice Vermicelli Noodles: These slender rice noodles form the heart of the bowl. They cook within minutes and possess a wonderfully light quality that is perfect for soaking up the delicious peanut sauce.
Lettuce: We find that a crisp variety like Romaine or Little Gem works best. Simply tear the leaves into manageable pieces to create a fresh foundation for the other ingredients.
Fresh Herbs: For that authentic taste, this is a must! A generous mix of fresh mint and coriander is absolutely vital. If you can get your hands on some Thai basil, its aniseed notes are a fantastic addition.

For the Fresh Veggies & Toppings

Carrots: Julienne them into fine matchsticks to provide a delightful, sweet crunch.
Cucumber: Also julienned, cucumber brings a cool, refreshing element to the salad.
Bell Pepper: A red bell pepper, sliced thinly, adds a lovely sweetness and a vibrant splash of colour.
Bean Sprouts: These add another fantastic layer of crisp texture and freshness.
Crushed Peanuts: A final sprinkle of crushed peanuts just before serving provides a wonderful nutty finish.

For the Protein

While this salad is excellent as a vegetarian dish, the addition of protein transforms it into a more substantial meal. We particularly enjoy using plump, juicy king prawns to make the perfect shrimp salad bowl. You can simply poach or pan-fry them until they are pink and thoroughly cooked. Other wonderful alternatives include:

Grilled and sliced chicken breast
Crispy, pan-seared tofu or tempeh
Thinly sliced lemongrass pork

Crafting the Perfect Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Peanut Dressing

Assembling this dish is a beautifully simple process. Just follow these steps to achieve a flawless result every time.

Cook the Noodles: Bring a saucepan of water to a rolling boil. Add the rice vermicelli and cook as directed on the packet—this typically takes only 3 to 5 minutes. Drain them at once and rinse under cold water to halt the cooking and prevent them from clumping together. Set aside.
Prepare the Vegetables and Herbs: While the noodles are cooking, take the time to wash and prepare all your vegetables and herbs. Julienne the carrots, cucumber, and bell pepper, and roughly chop the lettuce and herbs. This is also a great moment to prep for other meals; if you are a noodle enthusiast, you simply must see our fantastic Pad Thai Recipe for another day.
Make the Peanut Sauce: In a small bowl or a jar with a lid, combine all the peanut sauce ingredients and whisk or shake until the mixture is smooth and creamy. If it seems too thick, add a little warm water, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches a pourable consistency.
Cook Your Protein: Prepare your protein of choice. If you’re using prawns, they can be poached in simmering water for 2-3 minutes or pan-fried with a touch of garlic. Allow them to cool down slightly.
Assemble Your Bowls: Share the chopped lettuce among four bowls. Arrange a portion of the cooked noodles on top, followed by the prepared vegetables and fresh herbs. Add your cooked protein, then drizzle generously with the peanut sauce. Finish with a garnish of crushed peanuts and a fresh lime wedge.

The Star of the Show: Homemade Peanut Sauce

Let’s be candid: a fresh roll is truly defined by its dipping sauce, and the same principle applies to this salad. Our homemade peanut sauce strikes the ideal balance between creamy, sweet, salty, and zesty notes. It’s the element that beautifully unifies all the fresh components.

Peanut Sauce Ingredients:

120g smooth peanut butter
3 tbsp hoisin sauce
2 tbsp lime juice, freshly squeezed
1 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp grated fresh ginger

– 4–6 tbsp warm water, to thin

Just whisk all the ingredients together until you have a silky, pourable dressing. Feel free to tweak the flavours to suit your preference—add a little more lime for extra tang, more maple syrup for sweetness, or even a touch of sriracha for a gentle warmth!

Tips for the Best Fresh Roll Salad Recipe

We want you to have a wonderful experience creating this salad. Here are some of our favourite tips to help you achieve perfection with every bowl.

Rinse Your Noodles: Never skip the step of rinsing the cooked rice noodles under cold water. This is the crucial secret to preventing them from becoming a sticky, clumpy mass.
Freshness is Key: Always try to use the freshest vegetables and herbs you can source. Their bright, lively flavours are what truly make this salad shine.
Prep Ahead for Success: You can easily prepare most of the components in advance. Chop the vegetables, mix the sauce, and cook your protein. Store everything in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator, then simply assemble when you are ready to eat.
Don’t Be Shy with the Sauce: This is not a salad that calls for a timid dressing. Be generous! The noodles and crisp vegetables are the perfect canvas for that rich and delicious peanut sauce.

Customisations and Variations

One of the greatest attributes of this salad bowl is its sheer adaptability. Don’t hesitate to get creative and tailor it to your own tastes.

Add More Veg: Finely sliced radishes, edamame beans, or even some shredded red cabbage would make for fantastic and colourful additions.
Try a Different Protein: Shredded rotisserie chicken, leftover grilled steak, or flaky baked salmon would all be wonderful substitutions.
Turn Up the Heat: For a spicy dimension, add freshly sliced red chillies to the salad itself, or a dash of sriracha or chilli garlic sauce to the peanut dressing. If you truly enjoy a fiery kick, you may also love the bold flavours in our Spicy Chili Garlic Oil Noodles.
Switch Up the Garnish: Crispy fried shallots or a scattering of toasted sesame seeds would introduce another delightful layer of texture and flavour.

FAQ

Q: Can I make this salad gluten-free?

A: Of course! Rice noodles are naturally gluten-free. To ensure the whole dish is gluten-free, just use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce in the peanut dressing, and check that your hoisin sauce is certified gluten-free.

Q: I have a peanut allergy. Is there a good substitute for the peanut sauce?

A: Yes, certainly. You can create a similar sauce using sunflower seed butter or tahini. The taste will be different, but still very tasty. Alternatively, you could prepare a classic Vietnamese dipping sauce (nước chấm) with fish sauce, lime juice, water, sugar, and garlic.

Q: How long will the components stay fresh for meal prep?

A: If stored separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator, the chopped vegetables should remain crisp for 3-4 days, the cooked protein for 2-3 days, and the peanut sauce for up to a week. For the best texture, we suggest cooking the noodles just before serving, but they can be stored for 1-2 days if necessary.

Q: What are the best noodles to use for this rice noodle salad bowl?

A: We wholeheartedly recommend thin rice vermicelli noodles, which are sometimes labelled as *bún*. They are incredibly light, cook very fast, and are the traditional choice for Vietnamese fresh rolls and noodle salads.

Your New Favourite Go-To Healthy Meal

This Vietnamese-Inspired Spring Roll Salad with Peanut Sauce is so much more than a simple recipe; it’s a celebration of fresh tastes, vibrant hues, and delightful textures. It provides everything we adore about summer rolls in a format that is wonderfully practical, quick to prepare, and endlessly versatile. It serves as delicious proof that eating well can be exciting, flavourful, and anything but dull.

So, the next time a craving for something light yet deeply satisfying strikes, we hope you’ll give this incredible salad bowl a go. We are quite certain it will earn a permanent place in your meal rotation. If you do make it, we would love for you to share your thoughts in the comments below. Hearing from you is always a pleasure! And please don’t forget to take a photo and tag us on social media—we are so excited to see your stunning creations.