Mango Crispy Rice Salad

if you want a salad with textural variety, this is the one

Jul 16, 2025

∙ Paid

This salad is a spin on Nam Khao, a Laotian dish of crispy rice balls typically tossed with peanuts, scallions, fresh herbs, pork sausage and fish sauce. Over the past year or so, it’s become a bit of a trend to put creative twists on the dish and I’m all for it. Traditionally, the rice is formed into balls and then deep-fried, but most of the current versions crisp up individual grains in the oven or air fryer instead, probably as a work-around for deep frying. I do appreciate dishes in their traditional form, but I also love how a technique can evolve and find its way into different contexts. That’s exactly what this version of crispy rice salad does.

We’re adding mango for sweetness, chopped cabbage and cucumber for crunch and some crispy tofu for even more crispiness. Plus, everything is getting tossed in a lime and chilli crisp infused peanut sauce because I love a creamy sauce over crunchy veg. All the flavours meld perfectly, and the mango makes for the perfect sweet and juicy addition amongst all the herby savouriness. Let’s get into it!