Dressing
In a small mixing bowl, whisk all dressing ingredients until well combined and sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
Salad
Soak noodles in warm water for 15 minutes; drain. Cook in boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and chill under running water. Drain again and cut cooked noodles, using a couple of crisscross cuts with a sharp knife (otherwise noodles will be too long and difficult to eat), and toss them with dressing to coat well.
In a large salad bowl, toss the greens in enough dressing to coat. Divide them among 6 chilled salad plates or bowls. Place noodles in a mound in the center of the greens. In the same bowl, toss the chicken, prawns, raisins, mint, cilantro, chile pepper, cucumbers and green onions with desired amount of the dressing. Mound this mixture on top of the noodles and garnish with chopped peanuts and a few cilantro and mint sprigs.
Note: Ingredients not available at the supermarket may be found at Asian food markets
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1/2 Cup fresh lime juice
- 2 Tablespoons Thai fish sauce (nuoc mam)
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 Tablespoon Thai chile paste with soy bean and garlic
- 1/2 Teaspoon Thai red curry paste
Procedure
Salad
- 3 Ounces bean thread noodles
- 3 Cups mesclun greens or chopped romaine
- 12 Ounces cooked, boneless chicken breast or thigh meat, finely chopped
- 6 Ounces cooked prawns (31/40), peeled and deveined, tail on
- 6 Tablespoons California natural raisins, plumped
- 6 Tablespoons California golden raisins, plumped
- 1/4 Cup mint leaves, coarsely chopped
- 1/4 Cup cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
- 1 small hot red chile, very thinly sliced (optional)
- 1/3 Cup thinly sliced English cucumber
- 1 medium green onion, thinly sliced on the bias
- 2 Teaspoons chopped toasted peanuts; for garnish
- Cilantro and mint sprigs; for garnish