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.

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-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.