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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Gingered Noodle Salad





Zach and Drew at Delta Ponds



The Silver Fox

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...We've had a wonderful day. Our final destination was a place called Delta Ponds, which is a habitat that's been created adjacent to a stretch of the Willamette River here in town. The ponds are teeming with life at this time of year. So are our grandsons. They needed to burn a little excess energy, so we hiked about five miles of the river trail to get there. They were good, though tired, sports when they realized we could have driven to the ponds directly and they had been tricked. They'll sleep well tonight. So will I. Tucked into the picnic hamper were the remains of the noodle salad I talked about earlier in the week and promised to share with you today. This is very easy to make and uses ingredients that can be found in any major supermarket. If you are unable to find seasoned rice wine vinegar, combine three parts rice wine or cider vinegar with one part of sugar and a big pinch of salt and you'll be fine. If you are unable to find a mango, substitute thin slices of fresh pineapple. The pineapple is not traditional, but it's PDG and works well in this salad. The salad can be held for a day or two before it becomes unappetizing. It works really well as a base for the Chicken Rissoles we featured yesterday. As you skim through the ingredient list, you see that this gorgeous salad is low in fat and calories, as well as being delicious. It is, however, a bit more sour than most salads of this type. I hope you'll give this recipe a try. Paired with a small portion of meat or poultry it makes for a wonderful light summer meal. Here's the recipe.

Gingered Noodle Salad...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite inspired by Gourmet magazine

Ingredients:
Vinaigrette
6 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1-1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1-1/2 to 3 teaspoons chopped peeled fresh ginger
1 teaspoon minced fresh jalapeño chile, including seeds, or to taste
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
Noodles
8 ounces bean thread (cellophane) noodles
1 English cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced diagonally
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced diagonally (1 cup)
1 firm-ripe mango, peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced
2 thin carrots, very thinly sliced diagonally
1 cup fresh cilantro sprigs

Directions:
1) To make vinaigrette: Blend all vinaigrette ingredients in a blender until smooth.
2) To make noodles: Soak noodles in cold water in a bowl until pliable, about 15 minutes, then drain in a colander. Cut noodles in half with scissors. Cook noodles in a 4-quart pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 2 minutes. Drain noodles in colander and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Drain noodles again well, then spread out on paper towels and blot excess liquid.
3) To assemble salad: Toss noodles with dressing in a bowl. Add cucumber, scallions, mango, and carrots and gently toss until just combined. Serve topped with cilantro sprigs. Yield: 6 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Long Life Noodles with Pickled Cucumbers - One Perfect Bite
Thai Sweet Chili Noodles - One Perfect Bite
Garlic and Cashew Noodle Salad - Bitchin' Camero
Asian Noodle Salad - Gourmet Traveller
Sesame Soba Noodle Salad - Herbivoracious
Ramen Noodle Salad - Chaos in the Kitchen
Lynne Rossetto Kasper's Rice Noodle Salad - The Wednesday Chef
Moosewood's Soba Noodle Salad - Table and Spoon

53 comments:

  1. I can understand what you mean by saying excess energy. These kids today are restless. I am sure you had a great time even though tiring. They will sleep well at night be sure of that. This salad is very colorful. I love it.

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  2. I can't wait for next week and my visit to my grandsons - I'm ready to meet that energy!
    Your rissoles from yesterday looked wonderful - I don't know about the noodles as I've never tried anything like this before.

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  3. Obviously you are having fun with those handsome boys (and the Silver Fox). I'm sure they needed the noodle salad after that hike. Enjoy--but I'm sure you need no encouragement in that department!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  4. Just a lovely family Mary! And thank you for the noodle recipe- I was hoping you'd post it!
    xoxo Pattie

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  5. Handsome boys and how lucky they are to be taste testers of this delisious salad...

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  6. Haha! You tricksters, you! Hey, gotta get them to burn off some of that energy somehow! And then restore it with this delicious salad.

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  7. Such beautiful colours and fresh, clean flavours. Very pretty looking dish.

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  8. The gingered noodle salad is simple, but full of flavors to refresh in this hot weather. Thanks for sharing the pictures of your grandsons, and the Silver Fox.
    I don't know how you are able to do all that you do and post recipes daily. Brava!

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  9. Sounds like a fun day with the grandsons. The salad looks like a delicious picnic lunch!

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  10. I love cooking with ginger! I must try this.

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  11. The grandsons are so cute! And this salad looks just the thing for cooling off after a five mile hike. Yipes, did I read you right? You must be the most fit person I know! Guess it's all your good cooking!

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  12. Yum yum, I love the noodle combo. And I'm totally obsessed with all things ginger, so this looks just fabulous!

    The kids are adorable!!

    Sues

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  13. I love ginger so I am sure that this will be right up my street. Diane

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  14. Oh how lovely, warm and comforting. It's so cold and dark here today, gingery noodles sound just perfect. :-) Love the pics of your family, Mary! :-)

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  15. Nice pictures dear Mary, and yes I know the kids! They look nice, and this gingered noodle salad yummy! gloria

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  16. Fun and precious time spent with the kids, enjoy it.
    Very delicious salad ♥

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  17. what a lovely salad. So fresh and I really like the addition of mango in it. yum. Enjoy your day. Michael :)

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  18. What darling pictures. Grand vaction you've been having with your grandsons :) Your salad sounds so fresh and inviting and something I haven't made before at all. Thanks for sharing.

    I'm making your pickles this afternoon :)

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  19. Beautiful clicks...YOur grandsons must have enjoyed a lot...! Lovely salad...looks so perfect n inviting Mary...:)







    1

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  20. I love your salad, perfect for a summer day. I hope that you continue having a great time with your grandsons :-)
    ciao
    Alessandra

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  21. Gorgeous pics, Mary! And this noodle salad is right up my alley. I love that you've given a formula for the seasoned rice vinegar as well. I wish I were having this for lunch today! :)

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  22. LOVE the husband's nickname--too cute! This noodle dish looks fabulous and I think would make any kid happy!

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  23. Sounds an looks just wonderful and healthy. I just had the grandhildren visit and it made me so happy!
    Rita

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  24. hmmm...I would do anything to have those mountains as view from my porch! Love your salad as well! I am sure all those cute guests loved it!

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  25. Your grandsons are so cute-

    We made a similar salad this weekend- it called for a lot of sugar which I halved but still felt like there was too much.

    I will try yours next time.

    Have a wonderful day!

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  26. Sounds like you are having fun! The gingered noodle salad looks so refreshing, lovely flavours!

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  27. come sempre un piatto squisito!!baci!!ciao!

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  28. Loving all the flavors in this salad Mary. It sounds super delish.

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  29. Hope you're having a grand time with those grand kids! The noodle salad is lovely- thanks! Just the thing for a picnic. (You can get hungry after a five mile hike!)

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  30. Thanks!!! First for sharing the growing grandsons, the Silver Fox, and this beautiful salad. Life is good!!!

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  31. great clean and light dish... I love ginger in anything!

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  32. It appears that you have your hands full with three handsome men! I love that you refer to your husband as the silver fox. I like to call my dad the silver fox as well:)

    This gingered noodle salad looks like the perfect recipe to take along on a picnic.

    I hope that the heat wasn't too bad while you were hiking. It's been very unbearable here in KY.

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  33. Nice photos of Zach, Drew and hubby.

    Nice recipe...simple...

    Carmen

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  34. What a delicious and beautiful looking salad. Perfect for a picnic!

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  35. I'm so happy you're having such a wonderful time with your family! I love a nice tart salad and this noodle salad looks absolutely delicious!

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  36. Such handsome young men! I know that they can tire you out after an active day outside. I love noodle salads like this one with a light bur flavorful dressing, thanks for sharing.

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  37. Delicious salad and your grandsons are so beautiful. Congratulations.
    Have a nice day

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  38. This is a mean looking salad. And I love your pictures--Delta Ponds looks beautiful

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  39. I adore salads like these! And I am a master at wearing out my grandson!

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  40. Mary, what a vibrant salad! It looks so refreshing!

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  41. I absolutely adore a good noodle salad. I made one this week too. Thanks for the lovely recipe!

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  42. Love the ingredients you put into your salad and the dressing sounded really refreshing!

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  43. I love ginger. It has such a comforting touch to any dishes.

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  44. What could be more beautiful then then that healthy looking salad? Your family! Thanks for sharing the day with us...and of course the recipe. This sounds wonderful and light. I will be making this soon!

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  45. Looks delicious and I love that you took the kiddos hiking@! And 5 miles no less - nothing better than worn out kids who are eager to eat what you put before them! food love from Wisconsin! Megan

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  46. FUN + YOUR FOOD = PERFECTION! So glad you shared a beautiful day together...

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  47. Love glass noodles and this is such a summery dish!

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  48. What handsome men you have in your life! I'm loving this summery noodle dish. It sounds just perfect!

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  49. What a beautiful family you have...and what a great way to spend the day. Your salad looks just delicious. I love using ginger during the summer months...there is something so cooling and refreshing about it.

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  50. Mary...I eat bean noodles (Mung) all the time...just love the ingredints you used to enhance the blandness of this noodle. Thanks.

    Ciao for now,
    Claudia

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  51. An Asian pasta salad! Cool, Mary. I rely on you for most things non-Italian because you get it!

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  52. I am loving this - and just think it's so grand that it was consumed after a very busy day. But what fun and how nourishing - all rolled into one lovely time.

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