Vietnamese Chicken Salad (Gỏi Gá)

Refreshing, colorful and delicious - Vietnamese Chicken Salad

Vietnamese Chicken Salad (Gỏi Gá)

The Ultimate Fresh & Flavorful Salad Upgrade

If you think salads are boring, let me introduce you to Gỏi Gà, aka Vietnamese Chicken Salad—the fresh, crunchy, umami-packed game changer your meal routine needs. This Vietnamese salad is a go to order of mine at Vietnamese restaurants and so I thought I’d make a version of it that you can enjoy at home.

This isn’t your average lettuce-and-ranch situation. We’re talking juicy, poached chicken, crisp veggies, fragrant herbs, and a next-level fish sauce dressing that brings it all together.

What I love most about this salad is the protein AND the veggies are customizable. While I recommend poached chicken, you can substitute with:

• Shredded rotisserie chicken or ground chicken

• Ground pork or turkey

• A vegetarian or vegan option like baked tofu slices, tempeh or your favorite plant-based alternative

• Noodles! Instead of a protein salad, create a noodle salad by adding rice noodles.

• Omit the protein all together. There are so many fresh veggies, it would be delicious without any added meat or chicken.

Why You’ll Love This Salad

• Juicy, Flavorful Chicken – Poached chicken breasts stay incredibly tender and soak up all the delicious flavors.

• Loaded with Fresh Veggies – Think shredded green cabbage, carrots, onions, and plenty of fresh herbs. While I recommend Napa cabbage as a base, green or purple varieties work well too. This is a choose your own adventure in terms of veggies, use what you like, what’s growing in your garden or what’s easily available to you!

• Healthy & Light – Packed with protein, fiber, and nutritious Asian ingredients that fuel your body.

• Customizable for Everyone – Add crunchy peanuts, spice it up with chili flakes, or keep it mild—this salad adapts to your taste. You could even add rice noodles if you're craving a noodle element.

• The Dressing is EVERYTHING – A tangy, sweet, and umami-rich fish sauce-based dressing ties it all together. It's also perfect as a dipping sauce for lettuce wraps or chicken bowls!

How to Make Gỏi Gà

• Poach the Chicken – Gently simmer chicken breasts until tender and juicy, then shred them.

• Prep the Veggies – Shred cabbage, julienne carrots, thinly slice onions, and prep finely chopped fresh herbs (mint, cilantro, Thai basil).

• Mix Up the Dressing – Whisk together fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, sugar, and chili for a bold, tangy kick.

• Toss & Enjoy – Combine everything, top with your favorite toppings; roasted peanuts, green onions and crispy shallots, and get ready for the best salad ever.

A Note on Poaching Chicken

Don’t Be Intimidated by Poaching Chicken—It’s Super Easy!

Poaching chicken might sound fancy, but trust me—it’s one of the easiest, most foolproof ways to get juicy, tender chicken every time. No overcooked, rubbery mess here! Follow these simple steps, and you’ll never look back:

1. Bring the Chicken to Room Temp – Take it out of the fridge 20-30 minutes before cooking for even poaching.

2. Set Up Your Poaching Liquid – Fill a pot with enough water to submerge the chicken. Add a slice of lemon and a bay leaf for extra flavor (totally optional, but worth it!).

3. Boil & Add Chicken – Bring the water to a rolling boil, then carefully add the chicken to the boiling water.

4. Back to Boil, Then Let It Rest – Once the water returns to a boil, turn off the heat, cover the pot, and let it sit for 20 minutes. No peeking!

5. Rest, Check & Shred or Slice – The chicken should be perfectly cooked through and incredibly juicy. Let it cool slightly before shredding.

Pro Tip: If you’re making a big batch, save the poaching liquid—it makes a great base for soups!

This simple method guarantees moist, flavorful chicken every time, making it the perfect protein for Gỏi Gà or any salad, sandwich, or meal prep situation. See? Poaching is a breeze!

More questions? Check out the FAQs:

Can I use rotisserie chicken instead of poached chicken?
Absolutely! While poached chicken is extra juicy and soaks up the flavors, rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut for busy days.

Is this salad spicy?
The base salad isn’t spicy, but you can add sliced Thai chilies, chili flakes, or a drizzle of sriracha if you like a little heat.

Can I make this salad ahead of time?
Yes! Keep the shredded chicken, chopped veggies, and dressing separate until you’re ready to serve. Toss everything together at the last minute for the freshest flavor.

What’s the best way to store leftovers?
Store the salad without the dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. The dressing can be kept separately for up to a week.

Can I make this vegetarian?
Definitely! Swap the chicken for tofu, tempeh, or even shredded oyster mushrooms for a plant-based twist.

Final Thoughts

This Vietnamese Chicken Salad is fresh, vibrant, and packed with bold flavors and nutritious ingredients. Whether you’re looking for a healthy meal prep option, a quick weeknight dinner, or a crowd-pleasing dish, Gỏi Gà delivers every time. If you enjoy this recipe, also check out my Chinese chicken salad recipe!

Ready to up your salad game? Give this recipe a try and let me know how you customize it!

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Vietnamese Chicken Salad (Gỏi Gá) Recipe

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Vietnamese Chicken Salad (Gỏi Gá)

Yield: 4-5

Author: HelloKelC Cooks

Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 40 Min

Upgrade your salad game with this vibrant, umami-packed dish! Vietnamese Chicken Salad (Gỏi Gà) is packed with juicy poached chicken, crunchy veggies, fresh herbs, and the most addictive fish sauce dressing.

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Ingredients

Salad & Chicken

• 2 chicken breasts (poached)
• 1 lemon (cut in half or quartered)
• 1-2 bay leafs or 1 tbsp of peppercorns
• 1/4 Napa cabbage (thinly sliced)
• 1/4 purple cabbage (thinly sliced)
• 1/2 large cucumber, seeded and thinly sliced (or 3-4 smaller cucumbers)
• 1 carrot, thinly sliced or julienned
• 1 bunch of radishes, thinly sliced
• 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced (white or yellow onions work too)
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• Handful of sugar snap peas
• Optional garnishes: cilantro, mint leaves, crushed peanuts, fried garlic flakes, garlic chili crunch, Sriracha, pickled red onions

Fish Sauce Dressing

• Juice of 1-2 limes
• 1/3 cup fish sauce
• 1/3 cup seasoned rice wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup water
• 3 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp of honey (or to taste) - you can also use sugar, brown sugar or syrup
• 1 tsp minced garlic (tube garlic works great here)
• 1 tsp minced ginger (tube ginger works great here)
• Optional: thinly sliced Thai chili peppers or Asian red chili flakes

Instructions

1. If poaching chicken; remove from the refrigerator ~30 minutes prior to cooking.
2. Prepare all the fresh vegetable ingredients. Wash, dry and slice the cabbage, cucumbers, radishes, carrots, bell pepper, red onions and snap peas (or whatever combination of veggies you're using).
3. After 30 minutes, trim any excess fat off of your chicken breasts. Bring a pot of water to boil. Ensure that the water will cover the chicken. Add in the juice of one lemon, bay leaf and optional black peppercorns.
4. Once the water is boiling, add the chicken. When the water begins boiling again, cover the pot, remove from the heat and let sit for 20 minutes.
5. After 20 minutes, remove the chicken and let rest for ~10 minutes.
6. While the chicken is resting, get the dressing ready.
7. Add all of the dressing ingredients in a jar or container; shake and make sure to taste test! Adjust to your liking.
8. Slice the chicken and layer all of the vegetable ingredients in a bowl. Top with the chicken and fish sauce dressing plus any optional toppings like cilantro, mint leaves, pickled onions, fried garlic or spicy garlic chili crunch!

Nutrition Facts

Calories

292

Fat

14 g

Sat. Fat

2 g

Carbs

17 g

Fiber

4 g

Net carbs

12 g

Sugar

7 g

Protein

28 g

Sodium

1688 mg

Cholesterol

72 mg

Nutritional information provided here is based on estimates and may vary depending on the brand and preparation methods used. Always check food labels for accurate nutritional details. 

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