Cellophane Noodle Salad Recipes

CELLOPHANE-NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Thinly slice celery and carrots diagonally.
• Soak noodles in cool water for 1 hour. Cut into 5-inch lengths with kitchen shears. Cook in boiling water until clear, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain (don't rinse). Place in a bowl.
• Add celery, carrots, and salt. Toss with tongs for 2 to 3 minutes. Add vinegar and bean paste; toss. When cool, toss in cucumbers and oil. Serve at room temperature.

SPICY ASIAN CELLOPHANE NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Place eggs in a saucepan with enough cold water to cover, and bring a boil. Remove from heat, cover, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool, peel, and chop.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the onion and zucchini until tender. Mix in the tofu, and continue to cook and stir until browned on all sides.
• With a mortar and pestle, grind the garlic and Thai chiles into a fine paste. Mix with the fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and salt.
• Bring 1 quart water to boil in a pot. Turn off heat, and soak the cellophane noodles in the hot water 1 minute, or until soft.
• In a large bowl, toss together the eggs, tofu mixture, garlic and chile paste, noodles, and lettuce.

COLD CELLOPHANE NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Pour the boiling water over the noodles in a large bowl. Make sure the noodles are submerged. Cover the bowl with a lid or large plate and allow to soak for about 4 or 5 minutes.
• Take off the cover and stir after about 4 minutes and allow to soak again until the noodles are firm to the bit but full cooked.
• Pour the noodles into a colonder and run ice cold water over them until they are cool and not at all sticky. Set aside.
• Slice all the vegetables and tofu and add them to your serving bowl.
• Add cold noodles and toss until they are well incorporated with the vegetables.
• Whisk all the ingredients for the sauce together and allow to sit for a few minutes.
• Add sauce to the salad and mix with your hands.
• Serve with pan fried dumplings. YUM!

VIETNAMESE TURKEY AND CELLOPHANE NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare Vietnamese dressing: In a small bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients and 1/4 cup cold water. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate until needed, up to 1 week.
• Place a kettle or pot of water over high heat to bring to a boil. In a small bowl, combine turkey with 1/2 cup of Vietnamese dressing; mix well. Place noodles in a heat-proof bowl and cover with boiling water; allow to sit until rehydrated, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine peas and sprouts in a colander, and pour boiling water over them; drain, rinse in cold water until chilled, and drain again. Drain noodles, rinse in cold water until chilled, and drain again.
• In a large bowl, combine drained noodles, turkey strips, scallions, peas and sprouts. Add peanut oil, sesame oil and 2 tablespoons more of Vietnamese dressing. Toss gently until mixed. Arrange on a large serving platter, and top with chopped cilantro. If desired, add more dressing to taste. Serve cold.

CELLOPHANE NOODLE SALAD WITH CABBAGE

Steps:

• Place the cabbage in a bowl and cover with ice water. Set aside while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Salt if desired. Drain the noodles and add to the pot. Boil for 1 1/2 minutes, drain, rinse briefly with cold water and drain thoroughly. Using a scissors, chop coarsely and transfer to a bowl. Drain the cabbage and add to the bowl, along with the peanuts, cilantro and chile(s). Toss together.
• Beat one of the eggs in a bowl and season with salt to taste. Heat 1 teaspoon of the sunflower oil in an 8-inch nonstick skillet over high heat, or in a wok, and add the egg. Swirl the pan and let the egg spread out in a thin pancake. Lift the edges of the pancake to let egg run underneath. It should cook through quickly. Flip over and cook for a few seconds on the other side, then remove from the heat. Repeat with the other egg. Roll up the pancakes and cut in thin strips. Add half the egg shreds to the noodles and set the other half aside.
• Place the garlic, ginger and a generous pinch of salt in a mortar and pestle and pound to a coarse paste. Heat 1 tablespoon of the sunflower oil over medium heat in the same skillet or wok in which you cooked the eggs and add the paste and the red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl. Allow to cool slightly. Add the rice vinegar, the lime juice and the remaining 2 tablespoons of sunflower oil and whisk together. Taste and add salt. It should be somewhat salty. Toss with the noodle mixture. Transfer to a platter or a wide bowl, sprinkle the remaining egg shreds over the top, and serve.