Thai Noodle Shrimp Spicy Salad

Thai Noodle Shrimp Spicy Salad is the epitome of awakening the senses with fresh flavors, from the aroma of the fresh coriander and Thai basil to that wonderful eye-opening scent of lemongrass taking us open-heartedly into an exotic experience, thanks to Eat the World and this month's stop, Thailand.

Song of the Day: "One Love" by U2 and Mary J Blige.

Thai Noodle Shrimp Spicy Salad is a wonderful plate of exotic spices and superb textures combining juicy succulent shrimp and excellent seared ground pork and enveloping it with tender noodles and fresh herbs and a slice of spice taking this dish way over the top.

I am sure you know this about me as I have expressed this thought before, but I am going to tell you again how important it is to me to break those cultural boundaries creating a world without prejudice and discrimination where that world accepts every one of us.  I believe food is one of the most powerful forces that can help make that vision a reality!

We feel so honored and privileged to be part of Eat the World that is taking us on a journey around the world and inspiring us to experience culture through the dishes that define them!

This month we are stopping in Thailand and it was pretty hard to decide amongst all the wonderful food representing this exotic, mysterious, beautiful place. I love how aromatic the recipes can be and also that touch of spice that just says HELLO to your taste buds. After looking at so many Thai recipes I decided to check out a fellow blogger's site: Hot Thai Kitchen to see what Pailin had brewing in the kitchen. Well, it was not easy there either as she has so many delicious dishes. One, in particular, was Pailin's "Yum Mama" Thai Instant Noodle salad. I was quite intrigued first by the use of the Mama noodles that are fantastic on their own, but then the elevation of flavor and freshness with additions of red Thai chilis, lemongrass, and fresh coriander or cilantro and ripe cherry tomatoes had my mouth watering and my desire to smell this dish emanating from our kitchen took me over the top. Thank you, Pailin for the inspiration.

There you have it, that's my story and I am sticking to it, lol.

Let's jump on the Eat The World Thailand train 

First of all, I made a stop at our local Asian market T&T to get some ingredients. I love this store. I was like a kid in a candy store looking for the ingredients I needed. I left there with my grocery bag hosting:

• red chilis
• cilantro
• Asian basil
• shrimp
• mama noodles
• cane sugar
• limes
• some ground pork
• and celery with lots of upper leaves

I can't wait to get home and make this salad.

So I started with the red chilis, cut them up a bit and into the mortar and pestle, yup we are going old school on the dressing. I pounded those chilis breaking them up then I added the cilantro stems and kept pounding until a paste formed. I did add a few Asian basil leaves and yes the aroma is happy making. Then in comes the cane sugar and yes, you guessed it, more pounding until it dissolves. Now we need some liquid and that comes from lime juice, soy sauce, fish sauce, and lemongrass, my all-time favorite ingredient, okay I put just a bit more than required, I can't help it, I just love that smell and the flavor, lol. Lastly, mama's chili powder which comes with the Thai noodles. A little arm strength and vigorous stirring. I dip my finger in to give it a taste. Wow, okay let's give it some justice, WOW, that is amazing and that spice, yowza!

Let's get this salad together, I am really hungry now! The noodle go into some boiling water just for a few minutes, then out they come and in go the shrimp till they turn color and out they come too. I love this part, put the pan back on the heat, squeeze the garlic oil that comes with the mama noodles into the pan. Throw in the ground pork and saute until it starts to brown. I threw the shrimp in and took it off the heat and tossed the pork and shrimp, then before I started I cut up the cherry tomatoes and onions and that beautiful mixture that I sauteed is poured all over the tomato-onion mix. Then in goes the noodles, some cilantro, celery leaves, and to really finish off the Thai dish, the dressing. Mix well to get all those flavors loving each other. I did add some more basil just because, and that my friends, is it.

I am getting my chopsticks and diving right into this Thai exoticness of a salad.

OMG The flavors are waking up every taste bud I have. The dressing has beautifully enhanced the flavor of the Thai noodles, shrimp and pork. Those hints of lime, a nice spicy kick from the chili powder and fresh chilis, the fish sauce, soy sauce with that saltiness balanced wonderfully with the cane sugar and let's not forget that lemongrass, yes yes I love this Thai Noodle Shrimp Spicy Salad. The noodles are so tender and delicious especially infused with that garlic oil and the shrimp are juicy and sweet. The pork adds a nice crisp and so so flavorful note to this symphony of exuberant exotic bliss. The tomatoes add beautiful pops of color, a wonderful acidic sweetness to the mix and the celery with its pepperiness and crunch delights us with textures and freshness.

I felt so good after eating this Thai noodle salad that I wanted to share some with my friends and co-workers. I think it went over quite well as the compliments I heard made me feel blessed and encouraged. One of my co-workers ate so quickly I don't even think he took a breath, lol. I feel so blessed and appreciated. What a great way to nurture and respect people, through good food made with incredible passion and loving thoughts of peace, blessing, and tranquillity!

Take a trip on the Eat The World train, ALL ABOARD! Today's stop Thailand and our inspirational Thai Noodle Shrimp Spicy Salad!

Enjoy!

Song of the day: "One Love" by U2 and Mary J Blige.

Thai Noodle Shrimp Spicy Salad

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Thai Noodle Shrimp Spicy Salad is the epitomy of awakening the senses with fresh flavors, from the aroma of the fresh cilantro and Thai basil, to that wonderful eye-opening scent of lemongrass taking us open-heartedly into an exotic experience, thanks to Eat the World and this month's stop, Thailand.

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

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• 1 Thai red chili
• 6 sprigs cilantro stems, chopped
• 1 Tbsp cane sugar
• 3 Tbsp lime juice
• 1 Tbsp fish sauce
• ½ Tbsp soy sauce
• Mama chili powder to taste (comes inside the noodle packet)
• 2 Tbsp grated lemon grass
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
• ½ sweet onion, julienned
• 2 packs instant Mama Noodles
• 12 medium uncooked shrimp (I left the shell on)
• 2 packages of Mama's Garlic oil (comes with the noodles)
• 200 g organic ground pork
• 2 interior celery stalks with leaves chopped
• handful of cilantro leaves
• handful of Asian basil leaves

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Instructions

Dressing:

1. With a mortar and pestle pound the fresh red chili, cilantro stems, and Asian basil into a paste.
2. Add the chunk of cane sugar and pound until it dissolves.
3. Pour in lime juice, soy sauce, fish sauce, lemongrass, and Mama chili powder. Give it a quick stir and set aside.

Noodles, shrimp and pork:

1. Bring a medium pot of water to boil.
2. Break up noodles and toss into boiling water, cook for 2 minutes and scoop out noodles, drain and set aside.
3. Toss shrimp into the boiling water and cook until they just start to turn color about 3-4 minutes. Take out and set aside.
4. Drain water from pot and add Mama's garlic oil pouches. Toss in ground pork and sautee until brown and cooked 5 minutes, breaking up the pork.
5. Toss in shrimp and take pot off heat, toss shrimp with the pork and then take a bowl and throw in the quartered cherry tomatoes and julienned onion and pour the pork and shrimp over top the veggies letting the drippings in too!
6. Toss in noodles and pour in dressing, toss well.
7. Top with some chopped cilantro and Asian basil.
8. Serve immediately.
9. Enjoy!

Notes

1. If you like things really spicy put in more fresh chilis and Mama's chili powder.
2. If you do not like cilantro omit it and just use Asian basil.
3. If you have some leftovers you can warm it to room temperature or eat it cold, either way works.

• Author: Loreto
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Salad
• Method: Sauteing
• Cuisine: Thailand

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Check out all the wonderful Thai dishes prepared by fellow Eat the World members and share with #eattheworld. Click here to find out how to join and have fun exploring a country a month in the kitchen with us!

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Loreto

When I am not cooking, I enjoy playing musical instruments, singing, writing. I have learned over the years to live in gratitude and enjoy the moment.