Raw Pad Thai Salad

 Beautiful, isn't it. A true rainbow of vegetables. Crunchy. So many unique textures and flavors. A sauce brimming with character. It is a true work of art. 

This is another recipe from the My New Roots blog (Link). She says it is great for a potluck picnic, and she's right. This makes a huge amount. I had to mix it together in a giant soup pot. So my suggestion is to make this with some friends or family. If everyone chops a couple vegetables than it shouldn't take long and you may not be able to eat this all by yourself.

So what's in this beauty?
Just
cabbage
carrot
zucchini
green onion
cilantro
bell pepper
marinated mushrooms 
bean sprouts
and.... kelp noodles!

I used a vegetable peeler to make ribbons of carrot and zucchini and then just chopped the cabbage and bell pepper very thinly.

You marinate the mushrooms yourself, which is super easy, you just need to do it the night before. I used cremini mushrooms. Way more affordable than shiitake.

The kelp noodles were a new experience for me. I bought them at Whole Foods. Try one straight out of the bag. Surprisingly crunchy. But mixed into the salad they add a unique element that makes you feel like you are eating more than just veggies. But I think you could leave them out if you don't have access to them or want to save a few bucks. I bought about half of the ingredients as organic, comparing prices as I went to see what was reasonable. Make it with four friends and it's an affordable meal.

The sauce is made mostly with cashews (soaked the night before), lime, tamari, ginger, garlic, chili pepper, maple syrup,  olive oil, coriander seed, and turmeric for color.

I couldn't find a red chili pepper so I used half a serrano pepper. Perhaps less spicy, but I liked it.
Coriander seed is another thing you can find bulk at Whole Foods.
Here's my advice on the sauce. It is very mild, which is nice and lets the veggies shine through. However, I would recommend doubling the garlic and throwing in a little extra ginger too. Taste it before you dress the salad and add more of those flavorful ingredients if you want a little extra zing.

Summary:
This is not pad thai. I'm not sure why she calls it that. The sauce definitely doesn't have the ingredients that make pad thai. However, it is so vibrant and fresh and delicious in its own way. It's entirely unique. Feels like summer to eat this! It is fantastic as is, but I can also see adding chunks of tofu for some protein. Also, feel free to use extra dressing on any other salads you make.