Appetizer · Asian · Salad ·

Fragrant Burmese Tea Leaf Salad with Fried Peanuts

Name: Fragrant Burmese Tea Leaf Salad with Fried Peanuts
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Appetizer
Ingredients: 1 cup fermented tea leaves; 1 tsp fish sauce; 1 tsp sesame oil; 1 clove garlic, finely chopped; 1 lemon, juiced; 1 cup napa cabbage, finely shredded; 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved; ½ cup cucumber, thinly sliced; ½ cup red bell pepper, thinly sliced; 1 cup raw peanuts; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; ¼ tsp salt; ¼ cup lime juice; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 1 tsp sugar

A crunchy, tangy salad that combines the unique flavors of fermented tea leaves with fresh vegetables and crunchy peanuts.

4.4(290 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·September 4, 2025

Fragrant Burmese Tea Leaf Salad with Fried Peanuts — Appetizer served and photographed from above

Prep

15 min

Cook

45 min

Difficulty

Easy

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Tea Leaf Mixture

For the Salad

For the Fried Peanuts

For the Dressing

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 287 kcal
Protein: 11.3 g
Carbs: 17.25 g
Fat: 23.05 g
Fiber: 4.88 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1149 kcal
Protein: 45.2 g
Carbs: 69 g
Fat: 92.2 g
Fiber: 19.5 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 cup fermented tea leaves	40	2	8	1	2
1 tsp fish sauce	6	1	0	0	0
1 tsp sesame oil	40	0	0	4.5	0
1 clove garlic finely chopped	4	0.2	1	0	0.1
1 lemon juiced	12	0.5	4	0	0.5
1 cup napa cabbage finely shredded	10	1	2	0	1
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved	30	1	7	0.5	2
½ cup cucumber thinly sliced	8	0.3	2	0	0.3
½ cup red bell pepper thinly sliced	12	0.5	3	0.1	1
1 cup raw peanuts	828	38	32	72	12
1 tbsp vegetable oil	120	0	0	14	0
¼ tsp salt	0	0	0	0	0
¼ cup lime juice	12	0.2	4	0	0.5
1 tbsp soy sauce	8	1	1	0.1	0.1
1 tbsp rice vinegar	3	0	1	0	0
1 tsp sugar	16	0	4	0	0

These nutritional values are estimates and are not intended as dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Tea Leaves

1
Combine Ingredients
In a bowl, combine fermented tea leaves, fish sauce, and sesame oil.
2
Add Garlic and Lemon
Add minced garlic and lemon juice, and mix thoroughly.
3
Marinate
Let marinate for at least 15 minutes.
Tip: Prepare the dressing while the tea leaves are marinating.

Preparing the Fried Peanuts

1
Heat Oil
Heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat.
2
Fry Peanuts
Add raw peanuts and stir frequently to avoid burning.
3
Season Peanuts
Once golden, transfer peanuts to a paper towel-lined plate and season with salt.
Tip: Ensure the oil is not too hot to prevent burning the peanuts.

How to Make Fragrant Burmese Tea Leaf Salad with Fried Peanuts

Total time: 1 h · Yields 4 servings

1
Assemble Salad
Toss the napa cabbage, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red bell pepper with the marinated tea leaves.
2
Mix Dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sugar until the sugar dissolves.
3
Combine and Serve
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine all ingredients.