In a bowl, combine the chilli, garlic, sugar, vinegar, lime juice, fish sauce, oil, onion and black pepper to taste. Put to one side for half an hour.
Then in a big plate or bowl, mix the cabbage, carrot, chicken and mint.
Pour over the onion-soused, chilli-flecked dressing and toss very well — slowly and patiently — so that everything is combined and covered thinly.
Taste to see if you need salt or pepper.
Serve on a flat plate with maybe a bit more mint chopped on top.
