Crispy, crunchy rice is paired with bouncy, flavorful shrimp in this vibrant and balanced Vietnamese-inspired salad. The dressing, based on nước chấm, is toasty, zippy, and packed with umami flavor thanks to fish sauce. Although fresno chiles add a good amount of heat and red onion lends a  little bite, an entire cucumber helps cool everything down. Be sure to use a mix of fresh Thai basil, mint, and dill, as the herbs round out all the flavors. 

Why is my rice not getting crispy?

To make rice crispy, you need enough oil to coat each grain of rice. Skimping on the oil can result in pockets of rice  that never crisp up. 

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

Baking soda helps keep the shrimp plump and snappy, while the sugar helps with browning in the air fryer. 

Make ahead

The dressing can be made and refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days.