Coconut-lime noodle salad

This is a really light & cooling quick weeknight dinner salad for these last hot summer evenings.  The coconut-lime dressing is super mild.  It's not all crazy coconut-y, and my non-coconut-loving son gobbled this dish up.

I used glass noodles in this recipe which go by many names...bean thread noodles, cellophane noodles, mung bean noodles.  They are really easy to work with and are gluten-free for those of you avoiding gluten or eating a paleo diet. Omit the chicken and add some tofu for a great veggie dish!

Serves 6

Dressing:
1 1/2 c. coconut milk
1/2 c. fresh squeezed lime juice
2 t. fish sauce
1 T. brown sugar
salt & pepper

5 oz. glass noodles (aka mung bean noodles)
1 red bell pepper - thinly sliced
4 c. Napa (aka Chinese) cabbage - thinly sliced
1/4 c. roughly chopped mint leaves
1/4 roughly chopped cilantro
1 rotisserie chicken - shredded & cooled (about 4 cups)

toasted sesame seeds
garlic-chili sauce (optional)

To make dressing, combine coconut milk, lime juice, fish sauce, brown sugar in a small bowl and whisk until sugar dissolves.  Add salt & pepper to taste.

Cook noodles according to directions on package.  Drain and rinse well in cold water.  Allow noodles to drain for a few minutes so they are not too wet.

In a large bowl, combine noodles, bell pepper, cabbage, mint, cilantro and chicken. Toss with dressing.  Garnish generously with toasted sesame seeds and spoonful of garlic chili sauce, if desired.

Vietnamese noodle salad

 

The crazy, confusing summer-like temperatures here in LA have had me craving lighter foods like this flavorful Asian noodle salad.  

This dish is also great option for those of us who are still on our New Year's clean-eating kick...it's packed with veggies & lean protein, and the dressing has very little oil but is still full-o-flava (you could use this sauce so many ways - it's delish).

This one is a keeper for any time of year - hope you give it a try!

Serves 4

Dressing
1/3 c. lime juice
2 T. water
3 T. sugar
2 T. fish sauce
1 clove garlic - minced
1 t. lemongrass - tough outer leaves discarded, minced (about one stalk)
1 T. chili-garlic sauce
2 T. vegetable oil

8 oz. Pad Thai style rice noodles
1/2 c. chopped cucumber
2 green onions - white & green parts chopped
1/2 c. chopped red pepper
2 T. each - chopped basil, chopped mint, chopped cilantro
3 c. baby lettuce
3 c. cooked chicken, shredded (about 1 rotisserie chicken)
1/2 c. roasted, salted peanuts - chopped

For dressing, combine lime juice, water and sugar in a bowl.  Whisk until sugar is dissolved.  Add remaining ingredients and whisk well.

Cook rice noodles according to directions on the package.  Drain and rinse thoroughly under cold water.  When drained and cool pour 1/3 of the dressing over the noodles and toss to combine.

In a separate bowl, toss shredded chicken with 1/3 of the dressing.

In large bowl, combine cucumber, green onion, red pepper, herbs and lettuce.  Toss with remaining dressing.  Add noodles and chicken to veggies and toss it again!

Garnish with chopped peanuts.  Yum!!!!!

Click HERE or on the video screen below for the step-by-step recipe video brought to you by Kin Community & yours truly: