Crispy Rice Salad (Nam Khao) – Bianca Zapatka

Crispy rice, fresh herbs & a sweet-spicy dressing – discover Nam Khao, the famous Laotian Crispy Rice Salad! An easy vegan recipe with tips, tricks, and variations.

Vegan & Easy Crispy Rice Salad Recipe

If you’re looking for a dish that’s crunchy, zesty, refreshing, and satisfying all at once, you’ll fall in love with Nam Khao – a traditional rice salad from Laos. This vegan crispy rice salad combines oven-baked crunchy rice with a sweet and spicy chili dressing, fresh herbs, and crunchy toppings. Whether you serve it as a main dish or a side, this flavor-packed salad is sure to become a new favorite!

What is Nam Khao?

Nam Khao (also called Nam Khao Tod) is a traditional Laotian salad made with crispy rice, originally prepared with fermented sausage. In this modern, plant-based version we skip the sausage, but thanks to the umami-rich dressing, fragrant herbs, and perfectly crispy rice, the taste remains wonderfully authentic. The salad is sweet, sour, spicy, and refreshing – ideal for summer or whenever you crave something new and exciting.

Ingredients for this vegan Asian salad

• Cooked basmati rice (best when made the day before and well chilled)
• Red Thai curry paste
• Oil (eg peanut oil or another neutral cooking oil)
• Salt
• Chili (to taste)
• Garlic cloves
• Tamari (or soy sauce / vegan fish sauce)
• Sugar
• Water
• Lime
• Fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, and mint)
• Cucumber
• Roasted peanuts (salted)
• Crispy fried onions

How to make Crispy Rice Salad (Nam Khao) – Step-by-Step

As always, I recommend watching the recipe video and the step-by-step instructions first. You’ll find the full recipe with exact measurements in the recipe card below!

Step 1: Prepare and bake the rice

Mix the cooked rice with curry paste, oil, and a little salt until well combined. Spread evenly onto a parchment-lined baking tray and bake at 220 °C / 425 °F (200 °C / 400 °F fan oven) for about 30 minutes, until the rice is golden and crispy. Flip once halfway through for even crisping.

Step 2: Make the dressing

Deseed and finely chop the chili, press the garlic, then whisk together with tamari, sugar, water, and lime juice until the sugar dissolves.

Step 3: Prepare the fresh ingredients

Dice the cucumber. Pick the herb leaves and roughly chop them. Roughly chop the peanuts as well.

Step 4: Combine everything

Let the crispy rice cool slightly (important!), then toss it in a large bowl with cucumber, herbs, peanuts, crispy onions, and the dressing. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.

Recipe Variations

• With brown rice: For extra fiber and nutrients, use long-grain brown rice. Just cook it thoroughly and let it cool completely before baking.
• Sesame free: If you’re allergic to sesame, swap tahini for cashew or peanut butter, and use avocado or peanut oil instead of sesame oil.
• Peanut free: Replace peanuts with toasted cashews or sesame seeds.
• Extra protein: Add crispy tofu or pan-fried tempeh to your crispy rice salad for a protein boost.

Tips & Tricks for Perfect Texture

• Cold rice is key: Freshly cooked rice is too soft and moist. Chill it for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight, before baking.
• Crisp evenly: Flip the rice halfway through baking to ensure all grains get evenly crunchy.
• Don’t mix while hot: Let the rice cool for 10-15 minutes before combining it with fresh ingredients. This keeps the crispy rice salad light and crunchy.

Meal Prep & Storage

• Make ahead: Both the rice and dressing can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance and kept in the fridge.
• Storage: Leftovers keep well in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge. The rice will soften, but the flavor remains delicious.
• Tip: Take the salad out of the fridge 30-60 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to shine.

Why you’ll love Nam Khao

• Quick & easy to make
• Naturally vegan & can be made gluten-free
• Packed with umami flavor
• Great for meal prep
• Fresh, crunchy & light
• Adaptable to your taste
• Perfect as a main or side for lunch & dinner

More Easy Vegan Salad Recipes

Recipe video

If you try this Crispy Rice Salad recipe, leave a comment and star rating below! And if you snap a photo, share it on Instagram or Facebook and tag me @biancazapatka with the hashtag #biancazapatka – I love seeing your creations! 🙂

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