This simple and time-saving aloe salad recipe gives you a tasty, healthy dish. Natural aloe vera is great for cooling and detoxifying, making it a perfect addition to family meals. Let GC Food show you how easy it is to make this refreshing, natural aloe vera salad!
1. Benefits of natural aloe vera
Natural aloe vera is a familiar plant to many Vietnamese, as it’s versatile and packed with benefits. That’s why you’ll see it everywhere, from drinks and sweet soups to skincare and cosmetics. But here’s something you might not know: aloe vera can also work beautifully in savory dishes, like a fresh aloe vera salad.
With its cooling vibe, aloe vera turns this salad into a refreshing and unique starter, and it’s also great for glowing skin and staying in shape.
2. Ingredients you’ll need
To make this aloe vera salad, grab the following:
3-4 leaves of fresh natural aloe vera (about 500g). Choose large, green, fresh leaves with thick flesh
300g shrimp (preferably large and fresh for the best flavor)
1 carrot, 1 daikon radish, 1-2 cucumbers
Lime, chili, and garlic
Vietnamese herbs like Vietnamese coriander and Vietnamese mint
Peanuts
Shrimp crackers
Seasonings: fish sauce, sugar, salt, and cooking oil
These are all the ingredients you’ll need to make a delicious aloe vera salad.
3. Prepare the ingredients
Once you’ve gathered all the ingredients, the next step is to prepare them.
3.1 Clean the aloe vera
Rinse well to remove any dirt or dust. Then carefully trim off the spiky edges along the sides.
Next, use a spoon to carefully slide between the green skin and the white flesh to peel the aloe. Do one side, then the other. This way, you’ll get a large piece of aloe quickly and easily.
If that’s not your thing, just peel it with a knife like usual.
Rinse the aloe vera thoroughly under running water, then soak it in a mix of salt water and juice from half a lime for 20 minutes. This will remove any leftover yellow sap and sliminess from peeling.
After 20 minutes, drain the aloe and quickly blanch it in boiling water for 1-2 minutes. To keep it nice and chewy, drop it straight into ice water for 3-4 minutes. This helps keep the aloe crisp.
Although prepping the aloe takes a little time, following these steps will reward you with an aloe vera salad that’s totally worth it.
3.2 Prepare the rest of the ingredients
Boil the shrimp, then peel and slice them in half. Make sure to remove the black vein along their back.
Wash the carrot and daikon, then peel them. Use a crinkle cutter to slice them into thin, bite-sized strips
Wash the cucumber, cut it in half lengthwise, and remove the seeds to prevent excess water and sogginess. Then use the crinkle cutter to slice it into 1 cm pieces.
In a large bowl, add carrot, daikon, cucumber, and 1 tablespoon of salt. Mix well. Once they start releasing water, squeeze out as much liquid as you can.
Rinse the Vietnamese coriander and mint, then chop them up. Mince the garlic and chili.
Toast the peanuts over low heat until golden and fragrant. Take them off the heat and shake them in a small strainer to remove the skins. Lightly crush the peanuts (not too fine so you can still enjoy the chewiness).
Heat a pan over medium heat with just enough oil to cover the bottom. Fry the shrimp crackers until crispy, then drain them on paper towels and let them cool. For a lighter option, you can also use an air fryer.
3.3 Make the salad dressing
In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and the juice of 1 lime, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Then add the minced chili and garlic. Mix everything well.
Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. The dressing should have a good balance of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet.
3.4 Mix and garnish
Add the aloe, veggies, herbs, and shrimp to a large bowl. Drizzle over the dressing and toss everything to combine.
Plate, sprinkle some toasted peanuts on top, garnish with shrimp crackers around the sides, and enjoy!
Sweet, sour, salty, spicy - this salad has it all. With crunchy veggies, refreshing natural aloe vera, and nutty peanuts, every bite feels fresh and satisfying. It’s the perfect summer dish for hot days.
This recipe is brought to you by GC Food, a trusted supplier of aloe vera certified to VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards. Our natural aloe vera is carefully monitored throughout production to ensure the highest quality. With a variety of shapes and flavors, GC Food aloe gives you plenty of options. Check out our ‘About Us’ section to learn more about our products and the latest news.
This article is written by the GC Food team - experts in natural ingredients.
