With just under two weeks to go until the official start of the Lunar New Year, it’s time to start thinking about the dishes you’ll be serving. Alongside traditional favorites such as boiled chicken, sticky rice cakes, fried spring rolls, and pork sausage, don’t forget to include some refreshing sweet and sour salads. These salads are not only delicious and crisp, but they also help to balance out the heavier dishes. And the best part? You only need one versatile dressing to toss them all together.
If you’re unsure how to make this dressing, look no further than Chef Cao Giang’s recipe. It’s the perfect blend of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy, and it can be used on any type of salad, whether it’s for the Lunar New Year or any other occasion.
Chef Cao Giang’s Sweet and Sour Dressing Recipe:
1. Ingredients for the Dressing:
– 220gr golden granulated sugar
– 9gr coarse salt
– 100gr good quality fish sauce (with moderate saltiness)
– 20gr vinegar
– 2gr MSG
– 40gr kumquat juice
– 5gr spicy chili and 30gr mild chili for color
– 20gr finely chopped garlic
– 50gr ripe pineapple
2. How to Make the Dressing:
– Finely chop the pineapple, mild chili, and spicy chili, then blend them together.
– Pour the blended mixture into a pot.
– Add the sugar, salt, fish sauce, MSG, and vinegar to the pot.
– Stir the mixture over low heat until the fish sauce starts to boil, then continue boiling for 20 seconds before turning off the heat.
– Allow the dressing to cool, then add the chopped garlic and kumquat juice at the end.
– Transfer the dressing to a glass jar and store it in the fridge. It will last for up to a month.
3. Suggested Salads to Use with the Dressing:
This versatile dressing can be used on a variety of salads, such as pig’s ear salad, chicken feet salad, shrimp salad, and chicken salad.
Shrimp Salad.
Pig’s Ear Salad.
Ingredients for Chicken Feet Salad:
– 150gr deboned chicken feet, cut into bite-sized pieces
– 50gr green mango
– 50gr carrot
– 30gr banana blossom
– 20gr red cabbage
– Fresh herbs such as Vietnamese balm, mint, and coriander, chopped
– Roasted peanuts, crushed, with some fried shallots
– 70-80gr of the dressing
Instructions:
– Place the chicken feet in a bowl and pour in 50% of the dressing, making sure the chicken is well coated.
– Add the mango, carrot, banana blossom, and cabbage (reserve the herbs for later).
– Pour in the remaining dressing and gently toss to combine.
– Finally, add the fresh herbs and peanuts.
– For an extra crunch, serve with shrimp crackers or rice crackers.
Happy cooking, and may your Lunar New Year be filled with delicious flavors and wonderful company!
Simple recipe for a tangy and sweet salad dressing: Perfect for a diverse and satisfying Lunar New Year feast
With our unique blend of sweet and sour flavors, you can save time and still enjoy delicious and refreshing dishes during the Tet holiday.
Salad can lead to weight gain if you make this mistake
Salads have gained popularity among those looking to shed some pounds. However, not all salad preparations are beneficial for weight loss.
Tasty, Refreshing and Easy-to-Make Salad Recipes to Try at Home
Below are some mouthwatering salad suggestions that you can easily make at home.
Healthy Fruit-Based Salads to Replace Chicken and Bamboo Shoots
Indulge in a healthier and more delicious version of chicken and bamboo shoot salad – a mouthwatering fruit salad! Find out how to make it here.
