Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (2024)

Published: by Jamie · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 29 Comments

Jump to Recipe

This Vietnamese noodle salad is made with vermicelli rice noodles, fresh herb, and vegetables! It’s tossed with a delicious tangy and savory Vietnamese dressing and can be served cold!

Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (1)

This Vietnamese noodle salad is light, refreshing, and full of crunchy vegetables and fresh herbs! It's a great cold noodle salad to serve with any Asian meal or can be eaten as a main course.

It's a versatile recipe that can be customized to your liking. Add any choice of protein for a filling, satisfying meal. Or add a variety of vegetables for a healthy, vegan Vietnamese noodle salad!

Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (2)

This Asian noodle salad can be served cold or at room temperature. It's a great recipe to bring to any potluck as you can make it ahead of time and serve it chilled.

Ingredients

Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (3)
  • Vermicelli rice noodles - use thin rice noodles because they can be rehydrated simply by soaking in boiling water. You can also use thin mung bean noodles.
  • Fresh herbs - use any combination of fresh herbs. My favorites are Thai basil, cilantro, and mint. Scallions are another good option.
  • Jalapeno peppers - add jalapenos or sriracha to make it a spicy Asian noodle salad.
Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (4)

The dressing for this cold Asian noodle salad is a simple Vietnamese sauce made of soy sauce, lime juice, sugar, rice wine vinegar, and garlic. If you'd like, you can replace the soy sauce for fish sauce. Otherwise keep it as is for a vegan noodle salad.

Instructions

  1. Soak the vermicelli rice noodles in boiling water for about 3 minutes or until completely soft. Drain completely.
  2. Prep your vegetables and chop your herbs - basil, cilantro, and mint. Place them on top of the noodles.
  3. Pour the dressing and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
  • Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (5)
  • Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (6)
  • Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (7)
  • Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (8)
Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (9)

It's a quick and easy recipe that's ready in about 15 minutes. Keep it in the fridge to serve as a cold Asian noodle salad that's perfect for summer.

Variations

Add any of the following vegetables:

  • shredded lettuce
  • shredded cabbage
  • green beans
  • bean sprouts
  • Red and orange bell peppers

This pairs excellently with Thai tofu satay or any other protein!

FAQ

Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (10)

Can I make this in advance?

Yes! Assemble the noodle salad but leave out the dressing. Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap as the herbs can dry out. Keep in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Add the dressing right before serving.

What other noodles can I use?

You can use any thin noodles you like. I used thin vermicelli rice noodles in this recipe but you can also use thin mung bean noodles.

Thicker noodles may be used - just cook them according to the package then rinse them under cold water to remove excess starch. Drain them well with a colander before adding it to the salad.

Related recipes:

  • Baked Thai Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce
  • 3 Classic Spring Roll Dipping Sauces
  • Easy Japchae (Korean glass noodle stir fry)
  • Spicy Szechuan Noodles with Garlic Chili Oil
  • 15 Minute Thai Basil Tofu Stir Fry (Pad Krapow)
  • 15 Minute Vegan Thai Peanut Noodles

Recipe

Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (17)

Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing

This Vietnamese noodle salad is made with vermicelli rice noodles, fresh herbs and vegetables! It’s tossed with a delicious tangy and savory Vietnamese dressing and can be served cold!

5 from 365 votes

Pin Print

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Main Course, Salad, Sides

Cuisine Asian, Vietnamese

Servings 4

☑ Ingredients

  • 7 oz thin vermicelli rice noodles - - (dried) about 200g; substitute with any thin noodle
  • 3 cups cucumber - - julienned; about 2 cucumbers
  • 3 cups carrots - - julienned; about 2 medium carrots
  • 2 ⅓ cups fresh herbs - basil, cilantro, mint, scallions - - packed tightly
  • 2 jalapeno peppers - - (optional); cut into thin rounds
  • lime wedges - - (optional); for serving
  • crushed peanuts - - (optional); for garnish

Dressing

  • ¼ cup fish sauce - use soy sauce for vegan option
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • cup water
  • 2 Tablespoons lime juice - - freshly squeezed (about half a lime)
  • 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
  • 1 clove garlic - - minced
  • 1 small Thai chili pepper - - (optional) finely diced

Instructions

  • Rehydrate your noodles by soaking them in boiling water for about 3 minutes or until completely soft. Drain the noodles and set them aside in a colander to drain off excess water.

    This method works if using thin noodles. Otherwise, follow the directions on the package to cook the noodles. Meanwhile prep the vegetables and herbs.

    Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (18)

  • Add all the ingredients for the dressing in a bowl and stir to combine. Taste and adjust according to your preferences. Makes about 1 cup of sauce.

    Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (19)

  • Place the noodles in a large bowl and top with the cucumbers, carrots, basil, cilantro, and any other fresh herbs. Add the jalapenos at this time (if using). Add the dressing and toss to combine.

    Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (20)

  • Serve immediately as a main course or as a side. Add your choice of protein on top. See Notes for make ahead instructions.

    Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (21)

✎ Recipe Notes

Make Ahead:

If making ahead, leave out the dressing and store the noodle salad in the fridge to serve cold. As the herbs can bruise and dry out easily, cover tightly with plastic wrap. Add the dressing and toss to combine right before serving. Make ahead a day in advance.

Nutrition

Calories: 117kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 880mg | Potassium: 547mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 16936IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was and give it a 5 star rating! Tag @drivemehungry to show off your creations! I love seeing your photos!

*Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools.

« Jam Thumbprint Cookies | Spritz Cookies with Jam

Stir Fried Sugar Snap Peas with Garlic and Sesame »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. HC

    Hi! I have a question - one of the picture is from your "classic vietnamese dipping sauce (nuoc cham)" recipe so I wanted to make sure if I should follow that or just the recipe written above. Was the dressing intended to be a vegan nuoc cham?

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • Jamie

      Hi HC! Yes the dressing is a vegan nuoc cham but if you're not vegan, feel free to replace the soy sauce with fish sauce. Hope you enjoy this! 🙂

      Reply

  2. Maggie

    Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (22)
    Incredibly delicious and super simple! It reminds me of the vermicelli noodle salads at my local Vietnamese restaurants. Love the dressing!

    Reply

  3. Shelley

    Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (23)
    This is just gorgeous and so very simple! I love delicious, easy salads like this - and it's wonderful that I can sub in different veggies I might have on hand and add various proteins to make it a more substantial main. So flexible!

    Reply

  4. Annie

    Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (24)
    Love how fresh and delicious this is. It is a super easy salad to prepare, and we loved the kick from the jalapeno peppers! Will be making this on repeat for work lunches!

    Reply

  5. Aleta

    Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (25)
    Oh my gosh, this is exactly what I've been looking for. That dressing? Absolutely delicious with all the fresh veggies, noodles and herbs. Delicious combination!

    Reply

  6. Erin

    Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (26)
    I love how light and healthy this is! Especially for the upcoming warmer days. And so easy, too!

    Reply

  7. Farrukh

    Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (27)
    I tried these out for lunch and it came out so delicious! The tangy flavor is really good! Definitely making this again !

    Reply

« Older Comments

Leave a Comment

Quick and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing (2024)

FAQs

How to prepare vietnamese rice noodles? ›

Fill a large salad spinner (using both the bowl and colander) or bowl with warm water. Soak the rice vermicelli in water for 10 minutes and then drain. Bring a large pot filled with 7 cups water to a rapid boil. Add the noodles and boil for 2-3 minutes.

What is Vietnamese style noodles? ›

Vietnamese noodles include many types of noodles from Rice Vermicelli Noodles (Bún), Rice Sticks (Bánh Phở), Egg Noodles (Mì), Glass Noodles (Miến) and many more. What is this? For these Vietnamese Noodles, we are going to use Rice Vermicelli Noodles (Bún) and Lemongrass Chicken to create Bun Ga Nuong.

Are vermicelli noodles served cold? ›

Although one might assume that spaghetti and other pasta dishes should be served hot, Vietnamese vermicelli dishes are just as likely to be served cold. This might be in a summer roll, perhaps with prawns or pork, and then tossed with salads and spices.

Do you have to soak rice noodles before cooking? ›

Do I need to soak my rice noodles before stir frying? You will need to soften dried noodles before stir frying by soaking them in boiling water. Fresh rice noodles, available at Asian grocery stores, do not need to be soaked before adding to your stir fry, as they will cook during frying.

What kind of flour is used in Vietnamese noodles? ›

Banh canh (a kind of thick noodle) is more popular in the central and southern regions of Vietnam. The strands can be made from rice flour, wheat flour, tapioca, or rice flour mixed with tapioca, which makes them much bigger than normal vermicelli.

What is the most popular noodle in Vietnam? ›

“Pho” (Vietnamese noodle soup), “bun cha” (rice vermicelli with grilled pork and fresh herbs), Quang-style noodles, and many other delights have been introduced by TasteAtlas as among the most popular noodle dishes in Vietnam.

Why do you soak vermicelli? ›

Cooking fresh rice noodles in boiling water can make them too soft and mushy. Soaking them in warm water is a gentler way to cook them and results in perfectly cooked noodles every time.

Why do you rinse vermicelli? ›

If you're not eating the noodles immediately or using them in a dish that's either cold or room temperature, you should rinse the noodles in cold water immediately upon taking them out of the boiling water. The cold water will remove surface starch and cool the noodles, keeping them from cooking any longer.

Is vermicelli the same as angel hair? ›

Angel Hair. Because vermicelli is regarded as a somewhat thin pasta (in the U.S., at least), it is sometimes compared with angel hair pasta, also known as capellini. Both are long, extruded pasta made from durum wheat. But angel hair is quite a bit thinner than vermicelli and cooks extremely quickly.

Can I cook vermicelli without soaking? ›

I don't have to soak rice noodles before cooking, but I find that it helps them cook more evenly. If I'm in a hurry, I'll just give them a quick rinse in hot water before cooking.

What are Vietnamese vermicelli made of? ›

Glass Noodles (Miến)

They start off gray and mostly opaque, but they're clear, slippery, and extra flexible when fully cooked. They're made of mung beans and often called mung bean threads, glass noodles, cellophane noodles, or vermicelli, not to be confused with rice vermicelli, or bún (above).

How to cook packaged rice noodle? ›

How Do You Cook Rice Noodles? Rice noodles are very easy for home cooks to make — simply soak them in warm water (not cold water, not hot water) for 10-15 minutes, or until they are soft. Unlike wheat pasta, you don't need to boil rice noodles; the warm water is enough to cook them through.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Lilliana Bartoletti

Last Updated:

Views: 6242

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Lilliana Bartoletti

Birthday: 1999-11-18

Address: 58866 Tricia Spurs, North Melvinberg, HI 91346-3774

Phone: +50616620367928

Job: Real-Estate Liaison

Hobby: Graffiti, Astronomy, Handball, Magic, Origami, Fashion, Foreign language learning

Introduction: My name is Lilliana Bartoletti, I am a adventurous, pleasant, shiny, beautiful, handsome, zealous, tasty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.