Description
Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad, also known as Pla Goong, is a vibrant and flavorful dish combining succulent sautéed shrimp with a tangy and spicy dressing made from fresh lime juice, fish sauce, and Thai chili paste. Enhanced with aromatic herbs such as mint, cilantro, and lemongrass, this salad is served over crisp lettuce or shredded cabbage and garnished with crunchy peanuts, making it a perfect light and refreshing main course with bold Thai flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Dressing
- 1 pound large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon Thai chili paste or chili garlic sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Salad Ingredients
- 2 shallots (thinly sliced)
- 1 stalk lemongrass (tender part only, finely chopped)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tablespoon chopped green onions
- 1 small cucumber (sliced)
- Lettuce leaves or shredded cabbage for serving
- Crushed roasted peanuts for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Shrimp: Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the peeled and deveined shrimp and sauté for 2–3 minutes on each side until they turn pink and are just cooked through. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together fresh lime juice, fish sauce, Thai chili paste (or chili garlic sauce), and sugar until the sugar has fully dissolved, creating a balanced sweet, sour, and spicy dressing.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: Add the cooked shrimp to the dressing bowl along with the thinly sliced shallots, finely chopped lemongrass, fresh mint, cilantro, and chopped green onions. Toss gently to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the flavorful dressing.
- Assemble and Serve: Arrange lettuce leaves or shredded cabbage on serving plates and place the shrimp salad mixture on top. Add sliced cucumber on the side for freshness and garnish with crushed roasted peanuts if desired. Serve the salad slightly warm or at room temperature for the best flavor experience.
Notes
- For an extra spicy kick, add thinly sliced Thai chilies to the salad.
- This salad is best served slightly warm or at room temperature to maximize flavor.
- Grilling the shrimp instead of sautéing will provide a smokier flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad, Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Thai
