By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 2
541 cal · 20 min
Vietnamese Prawn Salad
Recipe GLPRd462afeaaf4511
A light and refreshing Vietnamese-style prawn salad featuring tender rice noodles, succulent prawns, and fresh vegetables topped with an herbaceous, tangy dressing made from garlic, chilli, lime, and a touch of sweetness. Finished with a sprinkle of peanuts and fresh herbs for authentic flavour.
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Ingredients
1 small garlic clove, finely chopped
1 small red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
1 tbsp golden caster sugar
2 juice of 2 limes
3 tbsp water
rice noodles
prawns
fresh vegetables (such as cucumber, bell pepper, and carrot)
fresh herbs (such as mint, coriander, and basil)
crushed peanuts
Directions
Prepare the dressing by placing the finely chopped garlic, red chilli, and golden caster sugar into a pestle and mortar. Pound and mash until the ingredients break down and combine. Pour in the lime juice and water, then stir thoroughly until the sugar dissolves completely. Set the dressing aside.
Bring water to a boil in a kettle. Place the rice noodles in a bowl and pour the boiling water over them until they are completely submerged. Allow them to soak undisturbed for 10 minutes until they become tender. Drain the noodles well and divide them evenly between two serving bowls.
Prepare the prawns according to package instructions if frozen, then toss them together with the fresh vegetables. Divide this mixture between the two bowls with the noodles.
Sprinkle the fresh herbs and crushed peanuts generously over each salad. Pour the prepared dressing evenly over both bowls and serve immediately.
Comments
Fresh prawns are reliably stocked at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, and Publix year-round, and rice noodles, garlic, lime, and peanuts are standard at all six chains—no special trips required. The real cost driver is the prawns themselves, which run $12–16 per pound, pushing the per-serving protein cost to $8–10, making this a splurge for a weeknight rather than routine. The stated 20 minutes is honest if the prawns are already peeled; if you're buying whole, add 5–10 minutes of prep. This is a same-night dish that doesn't reheat well, so plan it when everyone's home and ready to eat.
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