Spicy Thai Glass Noodle Salad (laab woonsen)

Method11 steps · about 30 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Soak the dried mushrooms in hot water for 10–15 minutes until softened.

   Soak wood-ear mushrooms · 15 minUses 15 g dried black fungus mushroom, aka wood ear or cloud ear mushrooms · hot water for soaking dried wood-ear mushrooms

2. 2

   Step 2: In a separate bowl, soak glass noodles in room temp water for 10 minutes.

   Soak glass noodles · 10 minUses 40 g dry glass noodles (see note) · room-temperature water for soaking glass noodles

3. 3

   Step 3: Meanwhile, make toasted rice powder: In a dry skillet, toast uncooked rice over high heat, stirring constantly, until it has a deep golden brown colour. Remove from pan, then pound in a mortar and pestle or grind in a coffee grinder into a powder. Be sure not to grind it so fine that it's like flour, you want a bit of grittiness.

   Uses 3 Tbsp uncooked jasmine or sticky rice

4. 4

   Step 4: Once noodles are done soaking, drain and use scissors to cut into shorter, easier to eat pieces (I make about 3-4 cuts).

   Uses dry glass noodles soaked ten minutes in room-temperature water

5. 5

   Step 5: Once mushrooms are done soaking, drain and cut into thin ribbons, removing any hard “core” pieces you find.

   Uses dried mushrooms soaked ten to fifteen minutes in hot water until soft

6. 6

   Step 6: Bring 2-inches of water to a boil in a small pot, add noodles and mushrooms and cook 2-3 minutes until noodles are done.

   Cook noodles · 3 minUses two inches depth water in small pot for boiling · soaked noodles drained and cut into shorter pieces · soaked mushrooms drained, hard cores removed and cut into ribbons

7. 7

   Step 7: Drain the cooked noodles AND mushrooms into a mixing bowl, then return the emptied cooking pot to the stove.

   Uses noodles and wood-ear mushrooms boiled two to three minutes until noodles done

8. 8

   Step 8: Add about 1 tablespoon of water to the pot and turn the heat on medium high. Add the ground pork and cook, stirring constantly, until done. Add cooked pork to noodles along with all the juices.

   Uses 200 g ground pork or chicken · 1 tbsp water · cooked noodles and mushrooms drained into a mixing bowl

9. 9

   Step 9: While noodles are still hot, toss in shallots (1) so the heat can help wilt the shallots slightly. Then add fish sauce (1 ½ Tbsp), lime juice (2 Tbsp), chili flakes and toss well.

   Uses 1 shallot · 1 ½ Tbsp fish sauce · 2 Tbsp fresh lime Juice · Roasted chili flakes, to taste (see note) · ground meat fully cooked with tablespoon water and mixed with noodles and all juices

10. 10

    Step 10: Add toasted rice powder and all fresh herbs, toss well, then taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

    Uses ½ cup chopped cilantro · 1 green onion · ½ cup mint leaves, roughly chop large leaves · noodles, mushrooms and cooked meat tossed hot with shallot, fish sauce, lime and chilli · three tablespoons raw rice toasted and ground into slightly gritty rice powder

11. 11

    Step 11: Serve immediately.

    Uses dressed noodles and meat tossed with rice powder, cilantro, green onion and mint