Ingredients
Salad
- 8 ounces spaghetti, broken in half, cooked in plenty of salted water to al dente and rinsed well with cold water
- 1 cup shredded red cabbage
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 bunch (about 6-8) green onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup roasted peanuts
- 2 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 handful cilantro leaves, chopped
- 1 handful basil leaves, thinly sliced, use Thai basil if you can find it
Peanut Dressing
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 Tbsp (heaping) smooth peanut butter
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, combine the rice vinegar, vegetable oil, smooth peanut butter, minced garlic, cayenne pepper, and salt. Use an immersion blender to process the mixture into a smooth, emulsified dressing. If the dressing is too thick, thin it with a little more oil or vinegar to reach your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Prepare the salad: Ensure the cooked spaghetti is well-rinsed and fairly dry (not dripping wet). Place the spaghetti in a large mixing bowl and toss it lightly with some of the peanut dressing to flavor the noodles.
- Combine remaining ingredients: Add the shredded red cabbage, shredded carrots, sliced green onions, roasted peanuts, sesame seeds, chopped cilantro, and sliced basil leaves to the bowl with the spaghetti. Pour in the remaining dressing and toss everything thoroughly to evenly coat the ingredients.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate the salad until ready to serve. Before serving, garnish with additional roasted peanuts and fresh herbs for extra texture and flavor.
Notes
- Use Thai basil for an authentic flavor, but if unavailable, regular basil is acceptable.
- Make sure to rinse the cooked spaghetti under cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Adjust the cayenne pepper in the dressing to control the spiciness according to your preference.
- This salad can be prepared a few hours in advance and kept refrigerated for enhanced flavor melding.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute the spaghetti with gluten-free noodles.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Thai
- Diet: Vegetarian
