Sesame Ramen Salad

This is a really nice change of pace. If you just follow the ingredient list and directions, you will find this to be a very good salad. If you want it to be a great salad, I have two recommendations for you. Instead of the using the ramen noodles we all survived on in college, go to Costco and get their Organic Millet & Brown Rice Ramen....a quantum leap in texture and taste. For the sausage, use Jimmy Dean's Hot Pork Sausage. It's the bomb. This Taste of Home recipe serves four people.


INGREDIENTS

For the Salad
9 ounces ramen noodles (3 to 4 cakes)
1 pound bulk spicy pork sausage
6 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
3 cups snow peas, halved
1-1/2 cups julienned carrots
4 tablespoons chopped dry roasted peanuts

For the Dressing
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon sugar
Juice of 1 lime (about 3 tablespoons)


DIRECTIONS

1. Cook ramen noodles according to directions. Then drain and rinse with cold water. Drain well and add noodles to a large bowl.
2. In a large skillet, cook and crumble sausage over medium heat until no longer pink, 5-7 minutes. Drain on paper towels and then add to bowl.
3. Add onions, cilantro, snow peas and carrots to bowl.
4. Mix salad dressing and pour over salad contents in bowl. Toss salad and serve, sprinkling 1 tablespoon peanuts over each plate.

Wine pairing: Sauvignon Blanc

Grogs and Goldie, 1956