Thai-Style Sprouted Rice and Herb Salad

Updated March 1, 2023

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Total Time
10 minutes
Rating
4(55)
Comments
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This is inspired by a recipe in “Seductions of Rice,” by Naomi Duguid and Jeffrey Alford. The traditional dressing is made with four times as much fish sauce, which I’ve revised here to keep the sodium levels more manageable. I find any amount of fish sauce makes a dish hard to resist.

Featured in: Brown Rice, but Better

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Ingredients

Yield:Serves six to eight
  • 4 cups cooked sprouted brown rice

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

  • 1 ½ cups tightly packed, coarsely chopped watercress leaves, baby spinach, arugula or a mix

  • 1 ½ cups edamame

  • 1 sweet red bell pepper, cut in thin 2-inch-long strips

  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped mint

  • ¼ cup tightly packed fresh Asian or sweet basil leaves, or tarragon, coarsely chopped

  • 1 cup loosely packed chopped cilantro

  • 1 shallot, cut in thin rings, soaked for five minutes in cold water, drained and rinsed; or ¼ cup finely sliced scallion optional

  • 1 teaspoon finely minced lemon grass from the tender inner part of the stalk

  • 1 bird or serrano chili, minced

  • Leaf lettuce for serving

FOR THE DRESSING

  • 2 tablespoons Thai fish sauce

  • ⅓ cup water

  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar, turbinado sugar or dark agave nectar

  • ½ teaspoon minced lemon grass, from the tender inner part of the stalk

  • 1 garlic clove, minced

  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon crumbled dried red chili

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil

  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 to 8 servings)

29 grams carbs; 183 calories; 3 grams monosaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 5 grams fat; 4 grams fiber; 360 milligrams sodium; 6 grams protein; 3 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine all of the salad ingredients in a large bowl.

  2. Step 2

    Combine the fish sauce and water in a small saucepan. Add the sugar, lemon grass, garlic and chili flakes, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, and simmer for five minutes, stirring occasionally. Make sure the liquid does not boil down. Transfer to a bowl or measuring cup, and whisk in the canola oil and lime juice. Toss with the salad.

  3. Step 3

    Line a platter with lettuce leaves, top with the salad and serve.

Tip
  • Advance preparation: You can combine all of the salad ingredients several hours before serving and refrigerate. Toss with the dressing just before serving.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
55 user ratings
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Comments

Use 2 cups instead of 4 -- on the rice and you are golden. This recipe is awesome. We did a side of tofu with Sriracha sauce. Yum.

Great salad. I substituted regular brown rice, lemon zest for the lemon grass and used arugula. Skipped the serrano chili. Played with the dressing until I liked the taste (more lime juice, less fish sauce). Holds up next day for lunch.

Is this best served cold or warm?

Very delicious! The dressing has similar ingredients to other asian dressings I use for rice-noodle salads but as this is briefly simmered it brings out the flavors more. I had sprouted brown rice in my freezer after making a batch 2 weeks ago and all other ingredients, so I was good to go. Only addition: bean sprouts to top. Served with crispy pan-fried tofu.

Is this best served cold or warm?

Great salad. I substituted regular brown rice, lemon zest for the lemon grass and used arugula. Skipped the serrano chili. Played with the dressing until I liked the taste (more lime juice, less fish sauce). Holds up next day for lunch.

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