Thai Style Rice Salad Recipes

THAI RICE NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Fill a bowl with boiling water; add rice noodles. Cover bowl and let sit until noodles are softened, about 10 minutes. Drain. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and toss to coat.
• Mix romaine lettuce, red bell pepper, red onion, green onions, cucumber, basil, cilantro, ginger root, jalapeno pepper, and garlic with rice noodles.
• Whisk 1/3 cup olive oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, white sugar, lemon juice, lime juice, salt, turmeric, and paprika together in a bowl; pour over rice noodle mixture and toss to coat.

THAI RICE NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Place the noodles and beansprouts in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave for 4 mins, or until the noodles are tender. Drain, then cool under cold running water and drain again. Return to the bowl.
• Stir together the lime zest and juice, fish or soy sauce and sugar. Stir into the noodles with the red onion and lettuce.
• To make with mince, heat a little oil in a non-stick frying pan and stir-fry 500g minced pork, a small knob of grated ginger and pinch cayenne pepper or chilli powder for 10 mins, until the mince is browned and cooked through. Mix into the noodles, divide between four bowls and serve warm.
• To make with steak, make the rice noodle salad. Heat 1 tsp sunflower oil in a frying pan. Tip 2 tbsp sesame seeds onto a plate. Rub 1 tsp oil into 4 x 175g sirloin steaks and press into sesame seeds. Fry for 5 mins for medium rare, turning halfway. Leave to rest for 5 mins, then thinly slice. Toss 1 deseeded and shredded red chilli, and a handful mint leaves into noodles. Top with steak to serve.

PAD THAI-STYLE RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook rice in abundant salted water, as you would pasta, until it's just done; about 10 to 15 minutes. Drain, rinse in cold water, drain again, then put in a large salad bowl.
• Put 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok or a large skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium heat. Add eggs and scramble quickly for first minute or so with a fork almost flat against the bottom of pan; you're aiming for a thin egg crepe of sorts, one with the smallest curd you can achieve. Cook just until set and remove crepe to a cutting board. Cut into 1/4-inch strips and add to bowl.
• Raise heat to high, and add remaining oil. When oil is hot, add garlic and shrimp, and cook, stirring occasionally, until shrimp lose their raw gray color; transfer to the bowl with a slotted spoon; add chicken and sauté until just done. Transfer with a slotted spoon; add scallions and half the bean sprouts; cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Again transfer with a slotted spoon.
• To skillet add fish sauce; chiles; tamarind and sugar, or ketchup and lime juice; and a little water (start with 1/4 cup); stir just to combine and deglaze the pan (add a little more water, if necessary), then drizzle warm dressing over salad. Toss, taste, and adjust seasoning, then top with peanuts, cilantro and remaining bean sprouts. Serve with lime wedges on side.

THAI RICE NOODLE SALAD WITH CHILI-LIME VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a cup or small bowl, mix together lime juice , fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, chili sauce, minced garlic, and sesame oil until the sugar has dissolved.
• Taste test for a sweet-sour balance, adding more sugar if too sour for your taste. Note that the dressing will taste quite strong and salty now, but will be delicious when combined with the salad.
• Gather the ingredients.
• Lightly boil rice noodles until al dente , about 7 minutes.
• Drain the noodles.
• Add the optional bean sprouts , if using, while noodles are still hot. Gently toss (the residual heat from the noodles will lightly cook the sprouts), then rinse with cold water to keep from sticking. Set aside to drain.
• Place noodles and sprouts in a large salad bowl. Add the tomatoes, carrot, green onions, bell peppers, optional shrimp or tofu , and fresh cilantro. Toss to mix.
• Add half of the dressing plus fresh basil and nuts, tossing well to incorporate. Taste test, adding more or all of the dressing depending on how many noodles you've made. If not salty enough, add more fish sauce or soy sauce. If not spicy enough, add more chili. If too salty, add a little more lime juice. If too sour, add more sugar.
• Place on a serving platter or in a salad bowl and sprinkle with fresh basil, cilantro, and peanuts.

THAI-STYLE SPROUTED RICE AND HERB SALAD

Steps:

• Combine all of the salad ingredients in a large bowl.
• Combine the fish sauce and water in a small saucepan. Add the sugar, lemon grass, garlic and chili flakes, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, and simmer for five minutes, stirring occasionally. Make sure the liquid does not boil down. Transfer to a bowl or measuring cup, and whisk in the canola oil and lime juice. Toss with the salad.
• Line a platter with lettuce leaves, top with the salad and serve.