Thursday, May 14, 2009

When It Is Gone, I am sad because I don't have it




Is that a simple definition of addiction? Can't live without it? Don't want to be without it? This is how I feel right about now. I am talking about a cold noodle salad that has me in its grip. I first tried it a few years ago, from the blog Simply Recipes
And I have been hooked ever since. Since then I have tried several other cold noodle salads, but I always return to this one--it is just that good! I find comfort just knowing it is chilling in the fridge and discomfort knowing that the last forkful has been consumed. Am I crazy? I guess so. Please try it and tell me I am not alone in this addiction.

Sesame and Cilantro Vermicelli Salad
Recipe adapted from Wild Thyme and Other Temptations from the Junior League of Tucson.

Honey Soy Dressing
1/4 cup grapeseed oil or corn oil
3 Tbsp dark sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon crushed dried red pepper or chili powder
3 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp soy sauce (less if using tamari which is more concentrated than soy sauce)

Salad
8 ounces of vermicelli, thin spaghetti, or angel hair pasta
Salt
1/2 cup coarsely chopped cilantro
1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/4 cup sliced and chopped red bell pepper
1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds

1 Cook the pasta in a large saucepan in salted boiling water, according to directions on pasta package. Drain but do not rinse.

2 While the pasta is cooking, prepare the dressing. In a microwave-safe dish, heat the vegetable oil, sesame oil, and red pepper, in the microwave on high heat for 2 minutes. Add the honey and soy sauce and mix well.

3 Combine the drained pasta with the dressing in a large bowl until the pasta is well coated. Cover and chill for several hours.

4 When ready to serve, mix in the cilantro, peanuts, green onions and bell pepper. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds.

Serves 4 to 8, depending on serving size and if it is a side or main course.

Note: I served it for lunch this week and after plating the portions, split a small drained can of Salmon between two servings to add more protein and omega 3's to our meal. Just a suggestion. I think sliced roasted chicken would be equally good.




8 comments:

  1. That is totally my kind of meal. Throw some tofu in there and I am a happy camper! LOVE the name of your site!

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  2. Thanks Dana for visiting and your comments. We are on the same wave link for sure, because I visited you site and commented on your post on the Quinoa and Grilled Zucchini. True to my word, I made it last night and it is now another addiction. So good that I was going to shoot you an e-mail this morning to see if I could convince you to let me post about it, giving you credit of course.

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  3. That sounds so good! I think I could develop an addiction to that too. Sounds great for summer.

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  4. Sounds really delicious! I'm bookmarking this!

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  5. I just had this for lunch - oh my goodness is it ever so good! I didn't have peanuts so used slivered almonds - yum!

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  6. Iraw, glad you liked it
    pigpigscorner and lisa, I don't think you'll have any regrets with this recipe, unless of course, your regret is that you didn't make it sooner or that you should have doubled the recipe!

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  7. This one's a keeper. I added some lemon juice to the dressing to cut the sweetness. Next time I'm throwing in a couple handfuls of baby shrimp...

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  8. Anon, great ideas, I'll try them too, thanks for the suggestions! I love all things lemon.

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