Thai Noodle Salad

According to the radio, today we have a heat advisory here in Middle Georgia. The high is going to be 102 degrees, but it will feel like 110 degrees. Awesome. So, I wanted to share with you a very refreshing and cooling salad that can make that heat a bit more bearable.

I got the idea from this month's issue of Fine Cooking magazine (my favorite cooking mag). In it, there was a section on limes and what to do with them. (Just buy a big bag and make the agua fresca from my last post... and this salad. Yum!) One recipe that really stood out to me was the Vietnamese-Style Rice Noodle Salad. And so, I did what I do... and adapted. Here's what I came up with:

Thai Noodle Salad

1 bunch Japanese buckwheat noodles (I found them at Kroger)
1/2 tsp. sesame oil
2 cups shredded chinese cabbage (if you can't find this, use iceburg lettuce)
2.5 large handfuls of broccoli slaw mix
1 small cucumber, diced
3-4 medium radishes, thinly sliced
1 cup fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup salted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Dressing:
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 Tbsp. fish sauce
2 Tbsp. agave nectar
1 Tbsp. grated ginger
1 clove garlic, minced

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, combine all of the dressing ingredients in a large bowl and let sit. When the water is boiling, add the noodles and stir. Cook according to the package directions. Drain in a colander and toss with the sesame oil (if it isn't enough to coat the noodles, add a little canola or olive oil).

While the noodles cool, prep the other veggies. Combine everything (except the peanuts) in the bowl and toss. Serve cool and sprinkle peanuts on top (so they don't get soggy).

Cooked buckwheat noodles
(They look just like what's on the package!)

Chinese Cabbage

Mmmm...

I served the salad with Chicken Satay
and Peanut Sauce
(Courtesy of Tyler Florence)

Stay cool and enjoy! ;)

~ Mari

Thai Mango Sticky Rice

Mmmm... my favorite dessert in any Thai restaurant: Mango Sticky Rice. Why do I love it so? Because it's rice. In a dessert. With mango. Oh yeah... and coconut. Delish! So, I decided to make it one night when the mangoes were fresh and I had a little time. I found the recipe online and changed it up a bit... Here it is:

Thai Mango Sticky Rice

Serves 4

1 cup Thai sweet rice/sticky rice

1-2 ripe mangoes, cubed

4-5 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

2 cups coconut milk

1 tsp. black sesame seeds

1 tsp. white sesame seeds

Soak the rice in 1 cup of water for 1-2 hours - don't drain it (this will help make it extra sticky!). Pour into a medium sauce pot and add 3/4 cup more water, 1/2 cup coconut milk, 1/2 tsp. salt, and two Tbsp. brown sugar. Stir.

Bring it up to a boil then bring it down to a simmer. Partially cover the top with a lid (let some of the steam escape). Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for about 20 minutes (or until all liquid is absorbed and the rice is soft). Turn off the heat, but allow to sit on the burner for 10 minutes with the lid on.

To make the coconut sauce, warm (do not boil) the rest of the coconut milk. Add 2-3 Tbsp. sugar (depends on how sweet you like your sauce) and 1/2 tsp. salt. Stir to dissolve. Remove from heat.

To plate, scoop a glob (yes, a glob...hehe) of the rice onto the plate. Put mango cubes around the rice glob and drizzle the coconut sauce over it (I like lots of it, but you be the judge). Sprinkle it with the sesame seeds, and you're done!

Mmmm.... nice and sticky... :)

Hope you enjoy the recipe! :)