Chicken Salad with Vietnamese Seasonings

• 1 tablespoon nam pla
• 1 teaspoon cracked or coarsely ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 small fresh chile, preferably Thai, minced, or 1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes, or to taste
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 medium to large shallots, chopped
• 2 cups chopped or shredded cooked chicken
• 1/2 cup chopped rau ram or 1/4 cup each mint and cilantro leaves
• Salt to taste
• 12 or 16 leaves Boston, red leaf, or green leaf lettuce

1. Combine the first 7 ingredients in a bowl and toss with the chicken; set a bit of the herb aside for garnish, then stir the rest into the mixture.
2. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding salt if necessary.
3. Arrange the lettuce on 4 plates and top each leaf with a portion of the chicken salad.
4. Garnish with the remaining herb and serve.

black pepper, sugar, fresh chile, lime juice, garlic, shallots, chicken, rau ram, salt, red leaf

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/chicken-salad-with-vietnamese-seasonings-386093 (may not work)