Vietnamese Cucumber + Soba Noodle Salad
When I first read about the Vietnamese Cucumber Salad from Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat I knew I would love it. I love noodle salads, especially Thai style ones, and I love cucumbers! It read as a really simple dish, perfect to accompany a piece of fish or chicken. This salad is tangy, super light and fresh. The lime juice, mint and cucumber are just the perfect combination!
A couple of notes: I use a julienne peeler to make the cucumber ‘noodles’. Without it, it would be really time consuming. If you don’t have one or a mandolin, I recommend getting one! They’re not expensive, but are brilliant! I added one bunch of my favourite brand of soba noodles, Hakubaku (for those in AU, one packet has 3 bunches), and served is with a piece of pan-fried Tasmanian salmon – something I highly recommend you eat with it. This particular salad has no coriander in it, and that’s cos my partner detests it, so I add it on top of my serve, just incase you’re wondering why you can’t see it.. but if you like it, add it!!
Now the recipe says serves 2 as a main, and 4 as a side, but my partner and I polish this salad off with the fish (we have rather big servings), so if you’re serving it for 4, either bump it up a bit, or add another dish in the mix.
Vietnamese Cucumber + Soba Noodle Salad
INGREDIENTS
Adapted from Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat
90g soda noodles, cooked, drained, run under cold water, drained again
1 continental cucumber, cut in half, then cut into noodles / julienne (stop when you get to the seeded centre)
1 long red chilli, deseeded and thinly sliced
2 spring onions, finely sliced
Handful of ripped mint leaves
Handful of ripped coriander leaves
1/4 cup peanuts, toasted and roughly chopped
dressing:
1 1/2 tbsp grape seed oil (or any neutral tasting oil)
2 tbsp lime juice (about two small limes)
2 tsp rice wine vinegar
2 tsp fish sauce1 tsp coconut sugar (honey or caster sugar is fine)
pinch salt
DIRECTIONS
To make the dressing, combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. Set aside.
In a large serving bowl, add all the salad ingredients and toss together. Just before serving, add the dressing and give it another good toss.
Serves 2 as a main, 4 as a side.
