A fresh and light Thai-inspired spicy rice noodle salad with grapefruit and peanuts.


rice noodle salad with grapefruit and peanuts

I’m hitting the refresh button.

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You won’t even believe how many fried things I ate yesterday (hint: ALL OF THEM), and I didn’t even go to a Superbowl party!!

Instead of watching grown, sweaty men jump on each other, I went to my friend Ashley’s house, and we had a major Dumpling-palooza.

Over 100 dumplings, 3 flavors – just me, Ashley, her husband, and her three year old.

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I might be experiencing symptoms of a minor food coma, but I have no regrets, though I probably can’t look at a vat of hot oil for at least a week to ten days.

(Unless we’re talking fried ice cream, in which case how quickly can you get here??)

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During the winter, I always find it so hard to pick myself up from a night of indulgence and start over again. There aren’t rows and rows of fresh, vibrant produce at the farmer’s market, offering me redemption in exchange for a night in my refrigerator. There is no local kale giving me sidelong glances from the supermarket produce aisle. There are certainly no clear, sunny blue skies shining down on me with promise of a new day.

And shockingly the sacks of potatoes and the brown/beige/grey piles of slush-snow just aren’t cutting it lately.

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Given these dire circumstances, I’ve had no choice but to break out my secret weapon: the Florida Grapefruit.

It’s sweet! It’s bitter! It’s tangy! And it will make you feel like a million bucks. That’s a promise.

Because of it’s unique soil and subtropical climate, Florida produces the sweetest and juiciest grapefruits in.the.world. I, for one, can’t get enough of them and it doesn’t hurt that they also contain over 100% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C. It’s basically a win/win for my taste buds and my immune system.

Normally I just snack on them al fresco (i.e, as is) but lately, I’ve been looking for ways to incorporate them into every meal of the day, and that’s where this noodle salad comes in. In it, barely cooked rice noodles are tossed with grapefruits, peanuts, zucchini, and arugula and dressed in an herbal soy-based sauce.

Each bite feels like a breath of fresh, nutty, grapefruit-infused air. Just what we needed.

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Rice Noodle Salad with Grapefruit and Peanuts
 
A fresh and light Thai-inspired spicy rice noodle salad with grapefruit and peanuts.
Yield: 4-6 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp packed brown sugar
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 8 oz rice vermicelli
  • 1 tbsp minced ginger
  • 1 large grapefruit, peeled, sectioned, and chopped
  • 1 medium zucchini, cut into spaghetti-like strands
  • ½ cup chopped roasted salted peanuts
  • 3 scallions, minced
  • ⅓ cup minced mint leaves
  • ⅓ cup minced cilantro leaves
  • 5 oz arugula
Instructions
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the jalapeno, garlic, brown sugar, lime juice, and soy sauce. Season to taste.
  2. In a large bowl, soak the rice noodles in hot water for 10 to 20 minutes, or until soft. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  3. In a second large bowl, mix together the ginger, grapefruit, half of the peanuts, the zucchini, scallions, mint, and cilantro.
  4. Drain the noodles and add them to the pot of boiling water. Cook until the water returns to a boil and then drain and rinse with cold water. Drain again.
  5. Toss the noodles with the grapefruit mixture, arugula, and sauce. Divide the salad among the serving bowls and serve garnished with peanuts.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 bowl

 More noodles!

drunken noodles with tofu and peppers

Drunken Noodles with Tofu and Peppers

big hot curry noodle pot

Big Hot Curry Noodle Pot

noodles in thai curry sauce

Noodles in Thai Curry Sauce

From Around the Web:

Crunchy Asian Ramen Noodle Salad from Gimme Some Oven

Asian Noodle Salad with Peanut Dressing from Well Plated

Vegetarian Korean Japchae Noodles from Steamy Kitchen

Red Curry Noodle Bowls from With Food + Love

Ginger Scallion Zucchini Noodle Bowl from Inspiralized

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

rice noodle salad with grapefruit and peanuts
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50 Responses to Rice Noodle Salad with Grapefruit and Peanuts

  1. Sune Moolman says:

    The colour of the grapefruit is just beautiful!
    I like the peppery flavour of the arugula with it.

  2. Emma says:

    Beautiful wintery goodness! I made something similar with last week with mango instead of grapefruit- so good!

  3. Why have I not thought to put grapefruit in a salad before. I bet the texture is really good with the noodles too.

  4. Dumpling party?! That sounds amazing. And this salad… so refreshing!

  5. Joanne, everything you make is seriously so delicious looking!!! I seriously LOVE this rice noodle salad bowl. . and LOVE the grapefruit!!! This is my kind of food! and hello, you better be posting those fried mac and cheese dumplings! or are they already on the blog?

  6. I eat grapefruit every day and am always look for fun new recipes. I would love a big plate of this salad! Simple flavors and delicious!

  7. This is exactly what I need after a weekend of gluttony! xoxo

  8. You make the healthy meals so delicious and moreish, Joanne. I love esp. the add of grapefruit here.

  9. SallyBR says:

    I love grapefruit in salads, but never thought of pairing it with rice noodles.. you are always expanding my horizons, and that is GREAT!

    Superbowl game was amazing, I did not think I was going to enjoy it, but talk about a nail biter! 😉

  10. Heather says:

    This salad looks so bright and fresh and makes me think of Spring! Also… can’t wait for the mac and cheese dumpling recipe. 😉

  11. I’m so with you– after a night of indulging, I feel like there’s nothing that can pick me up from my winter slump. But with citrus season and all, a grapefruit seems like a perfect choice. And I applaud your Night of 100 Dumplings.

  12. My roommate and I just got down with some miso rice noodles last night, and I was commenting on how I should make them more often. So good. I love this grapefruit idea – very unique!

  13. Everything you make always leaves my mouth watering! I love the grapefruit in this salad! Delicious!

  14. Bring on the rice noodles! I love that this is like a salad with a whole lotta noodles! Bring it on!

  15. Zainab says:

    Hitting refresh with this will be perfect!! I want all the grapefruit recipes 😉

  16. Mary says:

    Oh I”m with you! even though it’s so cold and snowy outside I’m craving something light and fresh after all the heavy food – this is perfect!
    Mary

  17. Ugh. Superbowl food. I ate my weight in dill pickle dip and meatballs. I’m still full. BUT I have room for this awesome salad! LOVE IT.

  18. Pam says:

    What a game last night!

    I am loving the combination of flavors & textures in this salad. Yum!

  19. You have the best noodle dishes ! Can we come over to your house and have some? Yummy recipe! Hope the snow melts away…

  20. Cailee says:

    WOW!! This looks so good! We just got rice noodles! I can’t wait to try them! What a fun combo of flavors! 🙂

  21. I really like the use of citrus in a salad like this!

  22. I love these kind of salads in the winter!

  23. What an unique combo, Joanne – I don’t think I’ve ever ever had grapefruit with peanuts – think I am missing out! Btw, I would pick ALL the dumplings over watching grown, sweaty men jump on each other too!

  24. You’ve come with this recipe at just the right time!! Thank you!

  25. Pam says:

    Grapefruit is the best and this looks really good. I never would’ve combined it with peanuts though; have to try that soon! You missed a good game. 🙂

  26. Kelly says:

    Oh my gosh, this looks incredible! Florida grapefruit is the only thing keeping me going during these dark and grey wintry days and I love that you added one to this rice noodle salad! It looks so refreshing and delicious and really wishing it was my lunch right now!

  27. Soooo much deliciousness yesterday. This looks like the perfect way to refresh. You know, after I eat my way through all of the leftover dumplings in my fridge 😉

  28. What a unique fresh noodle salad and we love all the other noodle options too!

  29. Eileen says:

    Grapefruit! Eating it is such a great little mini-holiday in the middle of winter. I love the idea of adding it to a classic bright & tangy Thai noodle salad! So many flavors all at once. 🙂

  30. What a unique salad. I am in line to have one of these. I love using fruit unexpectedly.
    I am always pleased.

  31. Deena Kakaya says:

    Grapefruit? What a tasty addition that is so cleverly balanced with the other ingredients x

  32. Kate says:

    This is the perfect time of year for grapefruit!

  33. Betty says:

    Looks so good- wish I loved grapefruit. I watch people eat it and want it because it’s so pretty. Then I’m tempted to eat it and it’s always the same. Oranges to substitute maybe? I love them! 🙂

  34. Beautiful Joanne. It’s such an amazing salad, a salad I would love to eat everyday.

  35. Reeni says:

    Looks like we both have salad and grapefruit on the brain! This is different in a good way and delicious looking!

  36. Oh, what a pretty salad – Joanne – sounds divine.

  37. Hotly Spiced says:

    That’s a lot of dumplings! I do love the look of your noodle salad and the grapefruit looks fabulous. I do love the pink variety of grapefruit – not so bitter! xx

  38. Gahhh! Give me ALL of this gorgeous detox salad. I am in love with that pretty grapefruit. This is post-game-day food at it’s best. 😀

  39. I am not sure about fruit in savoury dishes. I love grapefruit as plain as possible or in a sorbet 🙂

  40. I’m obsessed with the fact that you used grapefruit here! Love everything about this! So yum 🙂

  41. “at least for a week to ten days”…you always make me smile, Joanne. Love this salad too. I don’t see near enough recipes that include peanuts – why is such an amazing nut (or is it a legume?) so often forgotten? Anyway, looks amazing!

  42. Amen to bringing some color to a dreary winter! Totally digging the fresh grapefruit in these noodles!

  43. Krista says:

    What a delightful and unusual combination of flavors, Joanne. 🙂 It’s happily nosh on this on our hot summer days. 🙂

  44. Katerina says:

    I love the inclusion of fruit in these noodles!

  45. I jjst love rice noodles, so I must try this salad as soon as I can. It looks delish

  46. tigerfish says:

    The grapefruit makes this noodle salad so refreshing!

  47. Yummy! Any recipe with grapefruit makes me feel so healthy. Love it 🙂

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  49. Linda says:

    8-5-2015
    I made this tonight for dinner..with some variation. I used angel hair pasta; I quickly stir fried the zukes with the ginger; I kept the pasta separate from the Greens and I plopped a couple of seared scallops on top…and then drizzled on the dressing over the whole bit….YUM!!! and very pretty.

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