Vegetable Noodle Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Boil noodles according to package directions. Drain and cool. In a medium to large bowl, combine noodles, shallot, carrot, pepper, basil, mint, and cilantro. Combine all dressing ingredients, season with salt to taste, add to noodle mixture, and toss lightly.
• Snap off Bibb lettuce leaves and wash and dry. To serve, scoop spoonfuls of noodle salad into the lettuce leaves.

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil, and season generously with salt.
• In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, ginger and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, and mix well.
• Once the water boils, cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 3/4 cup pasta cooking water, then drain. Transfer pasta to a large bowl. Add half the dressing and 1/4 cup pasta water, season with salt and pepper and toss to evenly coat.
• Meanwhile, in a large deep-sided saucepan, heat safflower oil over medium. Add onion and bell peppers, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until deep golden and tender, about 10 minutes. Add snap peas and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, 1/4 cup pasta water and the remaining dressing. Stir to deglaze the pan and lift the browned bits on the bottom of the skillet, then add vegetable mixture (with sauce) and scallions to pasta and toss until well combined (add more pasta water if thinner sauce is desired). Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve warm or at room temperature. Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds, if using.

Steps:

• For the dressing: Grate the ginger into a deep bowl (large enough to hold the salad ingredients). Add the olive oil, sesame oil, peanut butter, honey, mustard, soy sauce and lime juice. Season the dressing with salt and pepper. Whisk together until emulsified, about 1 minute.
• For the salad: Add the spaghetti, carrots, peppers, scallions and cilantro to the bowl. Using tongs, toss until the noodles are coated with the dressing. Cover the bowl, and marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight, so the noodles can absorb the flavors from the dressing.

Steps:

• For the dressing: In a bowl, combine sugar, soy sauce, lime juice and three tablespoons water. Whisk until sugar is dissolved. Add garlic and chilies and let stand for one hour before serving.
• For the salad: Bring a medium-size pot of water to boil. Turn off the heat. Add the noodles to the water and soak until soft, five to eight minutes. Drain, rinsing under cold water, and drain again. Using scissors, cut the noodles into six-inch lengths. Set aside.
• In a wok over high heat, add oil and heat to 350 degrees. Pat the tofu dry with paper towels. Add to wok and fry until golden on both sides, about 3 minutes. Using a wire strainer or spatula, transfer tofu to paper towels, reserving the oil. Turn off the heat. When the tofu is cool enough to handle, cut it into half-inch dice. Set aside.
• Discard all but two tablespoons of the oil in the wok, and return to high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add diced tofu, garlic, bok choy or napa cabbage, mushrooms and chilies. Stir-fry until mushrooms are tender, about three minutes. Add mung bean sprouts, scallions, and soy sauce; stir-fry just until crisp-tender, two to three minutes. Add half a cup of the cucumbers, and cook 30 seconds.
• In a large bowl, combine lettuce, sesame oil, mint, cilantro, basil and cooked vegetables. Toss lightly to combine. Divide the noodles among four (or two) bowls, and top with equal parts of salad. Garnish with remaining cucumbers, roasted peanuts and cilantro sprigs. Pass the dressing separately, to be spooned over the salad.