Noodle Salad with Quick Peanut Dressing

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Noodle Salad with Quick Peanut Dressing

 

The dressing for this salad is based on one from the Cosmopolitan

Vegetarian Cookbook, by Amanda Grant, but uses much less oil. The salad

itself is inspired

by too many cookbooks and magazine articles to count! The `blended sesame

oil' referred to below is the cheaper type of sesame oil that is actually

toasted

sesame oil mixed with a bland-tasting vegetable oil. If you have the real

thing (incredibly strong-tasting; you only need a few drops to flavour a

dish), use

sunflower oil instead, and add the sesame oil (drop by drop) to the

dressing, to taste.

 

 

Serves 2 as a main dish

 

150g (5oz) thin buckwheat noodles

blended sesame oil to toss (say 1 tsp)

1 medium carrot

2-3 spring onions (green onions, scallions)

1/2 (sweet) red (bell) pepper

1/3 small white (salad) cabbage

Optional: about 150g (5oz) fried crumbled tofu

3/4 - 1 recipe (150-200ml, 5-7fl oz) Quick Peanut Dressing (see below)

 

1. Cook the noodles in plenty of unsalted boiling water, drain well, toss

with blended sesame oil to coat, and leave to

cool.

 

2. Meanwhile, cut all the vegetables into julienne strips (see hints on how

to julienne various vegetables). Make the

dressing.

 

3. When the noodles are cool, cut them into short lengths with a pair of

scissors or sharp knife. Mix in the vegetables, tofu

if using, and dressing. Nice served chilled, or at room temperature. Keeps

well in the fridge, good for packed lunches.

 

 

 

Quick Peanut Dressing

 

Based on a dressing from the Cosmopolitan Vegetarian Cookbook, by Amanda

Grant, but uses much less oil. If you have the unblended sesame oil (you'll

know if you have this - a few drops alone will impart a strong flavour to a

dish), use sunflower oil instead, and add a few drops of real sesame oil to

taste.

 

Makes

about 200ml (12 tbsp, 3/4 cup)

 

3 Tbsp unsweetened peanut butter (crunchy or smooth)

3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

2 Tbsp brown sugar

3 Tbsp good soy sauce (I recommend Kikkoman)

2 tsp blended sesame oil

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

 

1. Mix everything in a jar, and shake vigorously until blended.