Vietnamese Beef Salad Recipe
Light and refreshing, Vietnamese Beef Salad with shredded green papaya is full of amazing flavor!
How to Make the Best Vietnamese Beef Salad
This Vietnamese Beef Salad is the perfect dish when you’re craving something light yet incredibly satisfying. The combination of tender, lemongrass-marinated beef with crisp shredded green papaya creates a beautiful contrast of textures and flavors. Each bite delivers a burst of fresh herbs, tangy lime, and subtle heat from the chilies.
What makes this salad truly special is the aromatic beef marinade featuring lemongrass, five spice, and sesame oil. The beef is grilled to a perfect medium or medium-rare, then served atop the refreshing green papaya that’s been soaking in ice water to achieve that signature crunch. The fish sauce-based dressing ties everything together with its umami-rich depth.
Whether you’re looking for a healthy weeknight dinner or an impressive dish for entertaining, this Vietnamese classic delivers on all fronts. Don’t skip the roasted peanuts and crispy fried shallots on top—they add an irresistible crunch that takes the salad from great to unforgettable.
Vietnamese Beef Salad
Light and refreshing, Vietnamese Beef Salad with shredded green papaya is full of amazing flavor!
Ingredients
Salad
Dressing
Beef Marinade
Instructions
Prepare the Beef
- Make the marinade by combining lemongrass, garlic, fish sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce, sugar, pepper, chili flakes, and five spice.
- Slice beef into ½-inch thick bite-size pieces, toss with marinade and let sit at least 30 minutes. Or refrigerate for up to 8 hours.
- Grill or pan-fry until just cooked to medium or medium rare.
Prepare the Salad
- Peel and shred green papaya and place in a bowl of ice water for 15-20 minutes. Alternatively, you could prepare rice noodles following the manufacturer's directions.
- Make dressing by combining lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, oil, chili, and garlic.
- Drain papaya (or rice noodles) and toss with dressing to coat.
- Place on a plate along with beef and a combination of fresh herbs. Top with roasted peanuts and crispy shallots. Serve with chopsticks.
Notes
- Green papaya can be found at Asian grocery stores. If unavailable, rice noodles make a great substitute.
- For extra crispy shallots, slice thinly and fry in oil until golden brown.
- The beef can be marinated overnight for deeper flavor.
