Vietnamese Vermicelli Noodle Salad (Bun Chay)

About This Recipe

Bun salads are a Vietnamese staple, layering room-temperature rice vermicelli with crunchy fresh vegetables, herbs, and crushed peanuts, all tied together with a bright, tangy nuoc cham dressing spooned over just before eating. This vegetarian version keeps things light and refreshing, ideal for a hot day. The technique that separates a good bun salad from a mediocre one is rinsing the cooked noodles thoroughly in cold water, which stops the cooking and washes away excess starch so the noodles stay light and don't clump into a gummy mass.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 300 grice vermicelli
• 1cucumber(julienned)
• 1carrot(julienned)
• 2 cupslettuce(shredded)
• 1 cupbean sprouts
• 0.25 cupfresh mint and cilantro(chopped)
• 0.25 cuproasted peanuts(crushed)
• 3 tbspsoy sauce(or vegan fish sauce)
• 3 tbspfresh lime juice
• 2 tbspsugar
• 2 clovesgarlic(minced)
• 1red chile(sliced, optional)

Instructions

1. 1

   Cook the vermicelli

   Boil rice vermicelli according to package directions, usually 3-4 minutes, until just tender.

2. 2

   Rinse thoroughly

   Drain and rinse the noodles under cold running water, tossing to separate the strands and remove excess starch.

   Rinse until the water runs clear — this prevents the noodles from clumping into a sticky mass.

3. 3

   Make the dressing

   Whisk soy sauce, lime juice, sugar, garlic, and chile together until the sugar dissolves.

4. 4

   Assemble the bowls

   Divide noodles among bowls, then top with cucumber, carrot, lettuce, and bean sprouts.

5. 5

   Dress and garnish

   Spoon the dressing generously over each bowl, then top with fresh herbs and crushed peanuts. Serve immediately.

Variations

• •

  Add grilled tofu, shrimp, or pork for a heartier, protein-packed version.

• •

  Include pickled carrots and daikon for extra tang and crunch.

• •

  Use tamari instead of soy sauce for a gluten-free version.

Storage

Store components separately; noodles and vegetables keep 2 days refrigerated, but dress fresh each time to avoid sogginess.

Frequently Asked Questions