Silky rice noodles star in chill salads. Toss them with this Vietnamese-inspired mix of crunchy carrots and cukes, a breath of fresh herbs, and a big crush of peanuts.
Note: The salmon may arrive frozen for freshness. Store it in the refrigerator to defrost before cooking. If you need to defrost it the same day, place the sealed package in a bowl of cold water, and leave the tap running in a thin stream for about 30 minutes.
Contains: fish, peanuts.
What You Get
Rice noodles
Cucumbers
Scallions
Cilantro
Wild salmon pieces
Limes
Serrano or jalapeño pepper
Shredded carrots
Crushed peanuts
What You'll Need
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Olive oil
Fish sauce or soy sauce
Brown sugar
Step 1
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Set the noodles by the stove, but don’t add them yet. (They cook quickly.) Thinly slice half of the cucumbers into half moons, reserving the rest for another use. Slice about ¼ cup of scallions. Pick the cilantro leaves and toss the stems. Remove the salmon pieces from the packaging and pat dry with paper towels. Season with salt on both sides.
Step 2
In a large nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat warm 2 tablespoons olive oil. When the oil shimmers, add the salmon and sear until golden and firm, turning once, 2 to 3 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the pieces. Transfer to a plate to let cool slightly, then break the salmon into large flakes.
Step 3
To make the dressing, in a small bowl, combine the juice of 2 limes, 1 tablespoon fish or soy sauce, 2 teaspoons firmly packed brown sugar, and 3 tablespoons olive oil, and whisk until the sugar dissolves. Mince the serrano, removing the seeds if you prefer less heat, and add it to taste.
Step 4
Add the noodles to the boiling water and cook until tender, 3 minutes or according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water until cool.
Step 5
In a large bowl, combine the cucumbers, 1 cup of the carrots, and the scallions. Add the noodles to the bowl with the vegetables, drizzle with the dressing, and toss to coat. Season to taste with soy or fish sauce.
Step 6
Heap the noodle salad in bowls and pile the flakes of salmon on top. Sprinkle with the crushed peanuts, scatter with the cilantro leaves, and serve.