Saturday, February 5, 2011

Lazy Day Peanut Noodle Salad

I hate lettuce based salads but am happy to have salads which involve grains, beans etc particularly when the weather reaches 40 degrees.

This salad is appropriately named Lazy Day Peanut Noodle Salad by 101 cookbooks. It thankfully lives up to the title, it's so easy. We made a few substitutions using smoked tofu and rice noodles instead of soba noodles. Why do soba noodles always seem to contain wheat?  We also didn't use onions or peanuts. We also ended up adding more sauce.



Lazy Day Noodle Salad by 101 Cookbooks

1 8 ounce package soba noodles (use rice noodles to make gf)
1 bunch asparagus spears, ends trimmed then cut into 1/2-inch segments (we used broccoli)
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup (brown) rice vinegar
2 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
drizzle of toasted sesame oil
big pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
1/4-1/2 cup hot water
1 small bunch of spring onions or scallions, thinly sliced (we skipped this)
1/2 cup peanuts (we also skipped this)
12 ounces extra-firm (organic) tofu, cut into small cubes (use smoked tofu)
Big a large pot of water to a boil. Boil the noodles per package instructions.In the last minute or so of cooking toss in the asparagus. Drain noodles and asparagus, run under cold water for about a minute to stop cooking, and set aside.
Make the peanut dressing by combining the peanut butter, rice vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and a big pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Thin with hot water - the amount you'll need depends on the original consistency of your peanut butter. I like it the consistency of a thin (non-Greek) yogurt. Taste and season with a bit more salt if needed.
Gently toss the noodles, asparagus, spring onions, peanuts, and tofu with a big splash of the dressing. Add more dressing a bit at a time, until the salad is dressed to your liking, reserving any extra for another use. Taste, sprinkle with more salt if needed, and enjoy!

6 comments:

  1. I really like this recipe! Especially on these hot summer days when I come home from work after working overtime. I just want to collapse in a bundle and not bother with cooking!

    Thanks for sharing!

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  2. this sounds really excellent. and one that even i might not screw up.

    thanks!

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  3. sounds delicious - I've made a few rice noodles salads lately and enjoy them - because I end up not knowing what to do with the remains of a pack

    and re the soba noodles - checkout this link that someone put on my recent soba noodle salad post - it is advice on where to get 100% buckwheat soba noodles in melbourne - hope you might be able to find some http://fitterthanchoc.blogspot.com/2011/01/recipe-tofu-soba-with-lemon-ginger.html

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  4. Ack, I know exactly your frustration about wheat-containing soba noodles! I have found pure buckwheat soba at my health food store, though, so it does exist. I have some at home (where I'm not right now), so I can look and find the brand if you'd like?

    P.S. How I adore smoked tofu and peanut sauce. So much.

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  5. The only 100% buckwheat soba noodles I've found are by Eden foods:
    http://www.edenfoods.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=108300

    I love peanut noodles, by the way. Yum!

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  6. Celeste, exactly!

    James, it's pretty easy. p.s:are you going to blog about food?

    Johanna, Hannah and the mommybowl, thanks for the heads up about the gluten free soba noodles!

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