noodle salad

I just made this dish this evening and its SO nice and fresh tasting. I didn't follow a recipe I just followed the Asian cookery rules. Hot, sour, salt and sweet. It honestly works and it always turns out right. I let you know which is which in the ingredients. Its also good to have lots of fragrant ingredients like coriander (if you don't like it try some mint and more basil).

These are guidelines not a recipe! Make your dressing to taste and obviously you can add as much veg as you like! I always make more food than I need so I always have something to grab the next day. 

Asian noodle salad could serve 4-6

Ingredients

Dressing:

4 tbsp Soy sauce (salt)

2-tbsp Fish sauce (salt)

1 tbsp Sweet soy sauce or Honey (sweet)

1-2 Lime (sour)

5 spring onions

1 large red chilli (hot)

Lrg bunch Corriander

Sml bunch Basil

Salad:

120g Noodles

2 Carrots

1/2 Cucumber

1 sml Red onion

200g bag of mix salad leaves (rocket, baby spinach, red oak)

50g Natural Cashew nuts

Cook:

First boil the kettle and cook noodles as packet suggests. I prefer just to soak them for about 10mins. I find they cook but keep firmer which is better for a salad.

Get a large bowl and add all your dressing ingredients and give it a little whisk. You can taste it at this point. Make sure it works for you! 

I normally add half or one lime at this stage as I like to finish or serve with lime. Chop your basil and coriander and add to the dressing.  

When cooked, drain the noodles well and add them to your dressing. Coat all the noodles and leave it aside and all the dressing with absorb into the noodles. 

I like to cut the cucumber and carrots into long ribbons using a peeler. A speed peeler would be great as this can be quite fiddly. If not thinly slice in rounds, grate or julienne. 

Roughly chop your salad leaves and finely slice your red onion and add to the bowl.  

Give it a stir and leave aside as you prepare the cashews. Add the cashews to a dry hot pan and toast until golden brown (or a little black like mine) they brown so quickly! Sprinkle the cashews into the salad and mix. 

And that's it!

If you have it, sesame seeds and/or sesame seed oil would really compliment it. This is just a light meal, if you like grilled salmon or chicken goes really well with it!