Rice Noodles With Scallions And Herbs Adapted Martha Stewart L Recipes

HERB AND SCALLION RICE

Steps:

• Puree water, cilantro, mint, scallions, and garlic in a blender until smooth.
• Heat oil in a small saucepan over high heat. Add rice, and stir to coat. Cook until slightly toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Add herb puree and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, and cook, covered, for 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat, and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.

RICE AND NOODLE PILAF

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of the butter, and as soon as the butter melts, add the onion. Cook, stirring constantly, until the onion is translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the noodles, lower the heat to medium, and cook, stirring constantly, until the noodles are golden brown and the mixture gives off a nutty aroma, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add the rice, stir to combine, and add the remaining tablespoon of butter.
• Stir in the chicken broth and salt. Raise the heat to high and bring to a full rolling boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the rice and vermicelli have absorbed all the liquid. Fluff with a fork and serve.

RICE NOODLES WITH CILANTRO PESTO

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of generously salted water to a boil. Combine cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 teaspoons salt, and pepper to taste in the bowl of a food processor, and puree. Remove from the food processor, transfer to a small bowl, and set cilantro pesto aside.
• Melt remaining teaspoon butter in a small saute pan over medium-high heat. Add pine nuts; cook, tossing until golden brown, about 1 minute. Sprinkle with salt, and transfer to a paper towel to drain. Set aside.
• Cook noodles until al dente, about 2 minutes. Drain in a colander. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the cilantro pesto; toss, and garnish with pine nuts.

STIR-FRIED RICE NOODLE SALAD (PAD THAI)

Steps:

• Soak noodles in warm water for 20 minutes, or until softened; drain well. Meanwhile, combine 1/4 cup water, sugar, vinegar, fish sauce, tamarind mixture, and dried chiles in a small saucepan. Simmer, stirring, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, add dried shrimp, and set aside.
• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet or wok over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic, and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Stir in sugar mixture, and reduce heat to lowest possible setting. Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add string beans, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Add sugar-snap peas, and continue cooking for 30 seconds. Drain, and set aside.
• In another large nonstick skillet, cook shrimp over medium-high heat, 3 minutes per side. Meanwhile, add noodles, a quarter of the bean sprouts, and half the scallions to the shallot mixture. Raise heat to high, and boil, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add shrimp, string beans, and sugar-snap peas, and stir for 1 minute more. Turn out noodles onto a platter, sprinkle with peanuts and remaining scallions, and arrange lime quarters, coriander sprigs, and remaining bean sprouts beside them.

NOODLES WITH SPICY CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Toss cucumbers with 1/2 teaspoon salt, and let sit 30 minutes. Transfer half the cucumbers to a clean dish towel. Fold the edges of the towel around cucumbers, and wring to remove excess liquid from cucumbers. Transfer to a large bowl. Wring out remaining cucumbers, and add to bowl.
• Add red-pepper powder, sugar, scallions, garlic, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, and the vinegar. Massage seasonings into cucumbers; let sit 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and cook pasta until slightly beyond al dente (it should be very tender). Drain, and add to cucumbers. Toss to combine, then add remaining 3 tablespoons sesame oil and the soy sauce. Season with salt and red-pepper powder. Serve at room temperature.

RICE NOODLES WITH SPICY PORK AND HERBS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to boil, and cook noodles according to instructions. Drain noodles while running under cold water, until they are cool to the touch. Set aside. Mix dressing by whisking rice vinegar, soy sauce, black vinegar, chile oil and sugar until sugar dissolves. Set aside.
• Cook the pork topping: Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat, and add ground pork and salt. Pan-fry, breaking meat into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until no pink parts and no liquid remain in the pan, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, ginger and scallion whites, and stir occasionally until the raw smell has disappeared and the meat is starting to brown in places, about 5 minutes. Add the vegetables, if using, along with a tablespoon of water, and cook for 2 or 3 minutes more, or until mixture is darkened and thick. Set aside.
• When you're ready to serve, divide cool, drained noodles into four individual bowls, and top each with a tablespoon of vinegar dressing followed by a pile of ground pork, herbs, peanuts and radishes, to taste. Serve with any remaining garnish, and additional chile oil and chile-oil solids, on the side.