Glass Noodle Salad (Yum Woon Sen)

Ingredients

Localized ingredient list prepared for quick scanning.

• 1 large bunch rice noodles
• 1 cup raw shrimp or ground white meat
• 2-3 green onions, chopped
• 1 tomato, cut into thin wedges
• 1/2 cucumber, sliced into thin ribbons
• 1/4 cup red onion, very thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1/4 cup mint, chopped
• 1 tablespoon roasted peanuts, to sprinkle on top
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons warm water
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 large garlic clove
• 2-3 Thai chiles, crushed

Method

Follow the steps in order for the best result.

1. Prepare the dressing by combining fish sauce, warm water, lime juice, brown sugar, garlic, and Thai chiles in a small bowl. Stir well, ensuring the sugar dissolves completely with the help of warm water. Refrigerate the dressing to allow the flavors to meld while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
2. Sauté the shrimp in a little oil over medium-high heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook until pink and opaque.
3. Heat a pot of water over medium heat. It should be hot, but not boiling. Add the glass noodles and allow them to soften. This will only take a few minutes. Taste the noodles to ensure they are cooked through but not mushy. Drain the warm water and rinse the noodles with ice cubes and cold water to stop the cooking process and cool them down for the salad. Allow noodles to drain really well.
4. In a large bowl, combine the cooked shrimp, softened glass noodles, chopped green onions, tomato wedges, cucumber ribbons, thinly sliced red onion, chopped cilantro, and chopped mint.
5. Pour the chilled dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss well to ensure the dressing coats all the noodles and other ingredients evenly.
6. Garnish with crushed roasted peanuts before serving. Enjoy your flavorful Yum Woon Sen salad!