Master Recipe for Cool Noodle Salads

Ingredients

• 2 Tbs. chopped roasted peanuts
• 2 cups washed and shredded romaine, red, or green leaf lettuce
• Nuoc cham (Vietnamese Dipping Sauce)
• 12 sprigs fresh cilantro
• 1 recipe for Warm Lemon Grass Shrimp, Vietnamese Grilled Pork, or Stir-Fried Vegetables.
• 1-½ cups peeled, seeded, and julienned cucumber
• ¹/₃ to ½ cup roughly chopped or small basil or Thai basil leaves
• + 3 more ingredients
• • 8 oz. dried rice vermicelli
  • ¹/₃ to ½ cup roughly chopped or small whole mint leaves
  • 2 cups fresh, crisp bean sprouts

Divide the lettuce, bean sprouts, cucumber, mint, and basil among four large soup or pasta bowls. If working ahead of time, cover each bowl with damp paper towels and refrigerate. Set peanuts aside. Make 1 recipe nuoc cham and refrigerate. Bring a medium potful of water to a rolling boil. Add...

View full recipe at Fine Cooking