Thai noodles with gai lan


Thai noodles with gai lan
photo by greg rannells

Ingredients

1 14-oz. package rice sticks
2 Tbsp. sesame oil
⅓ cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp. sugar
1½ Tbsp. chile-garlic sauce
1 Tbsp. ginger, grated
2 tsp. rice vinegar
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
6 cups gai lan* (Chinese broccoli), roughly chopped


Garnish:
⅓ cup basil, chopped
⅓ cup cilantro, chopped
⅓ cup mint, chopped
¼ cup roasted salted peanuts, chopped
lime wedges



Preparation

• In a medium bowl, pour boiling water over the rice noodles and let sit 7 minutes. Drain and rinse the noodles and toss them with the sesame oil.

• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sugar, chile-garlic sauce, grated ginger and rice vinegar. Set aside.

• In a large skillet or wok over high heat, warm the vegetable oil. Add the noodles to the skillet with the gai lan and saute 2 minutes, then stir in the sauce and cook 1 to 2 minutes more.

• Divide the noodles evenly among the plates and garnish with basil, cilantro, mint, chopped peanuts and lime wedges.

*Gai lan is available at most international grocery stores and Asian markets, or can be substituted with chard, kale or spinach.