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Vietnamese-Inspired Venison and Watercress Salad
This quick and easy salad is perfect for a light supper or hearty lunch and carries bold Southeast Asian flavors.
Most of the ingredients can be found in big brand grocery stores, but you may struggle finding toasted/roasted rice powder. This ingredient is used in many Vietnamese dishes and adds a very unique gritty texture that is actually enjoyable and can be found in any Asian grocery store. Feel free to omit it, or make your own by checking out a tutorial online (it’s easy!).
Wild watercress is so nice, but store-bought will work just fine, as would any sturdy, leafy green, like mature spinach, Asian choys, or romaine lettuce.
- Prep Time30 min
- Cook Time10 min
- Total Time40 min
- Yield2 servings
Ingredients
- 1⁄2 lb venison round or loin cut into bite-sized strips
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1⁄2 teaspoon 5-spice powder
- 1 tablespoon oil or lard
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bunch (~1/2lb) watercress, large stems removed
- 1 large , or two small, tomatoes cut into small wedges
- 1 shallot, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon roasted rice powder (optional)
- 1 red chili, minced
- 2 teaspoons white sugar
- 2 teaspoons fish sauce
- 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon neutral oil
- 2 teaspoons water
Preparation
Season venison strips generously with the salt, pepper, and the 5-spice powder.
Heat the tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium heat and add 1 of the cloves of minced garlic. Fry until crispy (remove as it turns golden – watch out, garlic burns quickly and continues to cook for a few seconds after removing it from the pan!). Transfer the crispy garlic from the skillet to a large bowl, leaving the oil in the pan.
Increase heat to high and add the meat. Fry until lightly browned on outside and still pink in the middle, about 4 minutes or so. Add to the bowl with the garlic, along with any juices.
Add the watercress, tomatoes, shallot, and rice powder to the bowl.
Add the rest of the ingredients, along with the other 2 cloves of minced garlic to a small bowl and mix well. Add it to the salad and toss to dress. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
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