Recipe by Lori Ross

This salad dressing is unusual in that it is equally wonderful on cabbage and cooked noodles, staples of many long term cruisers. It has a light, sharp, bright, and spicy flavor that is absolutely addictive.  I recommend thin or medium sized rice or bean thread noodles, but I’m sure it works well with wheat noodles too.  Meats like shrimp, tuna, salmon chicken or meat substitute-tofu can be found in a shelf stable form, so no refrigerated ingredients necessary. Once again there are infinite variations to the ingredients in this salad, but my favorite is the following:
 
Dressing:
3 tbsps of fish sauce (also called seasoning sauce) available in the Asian food section of most chain grocery stores
2 tbsps of sugar
3 tbsps of lime juice
1 chopped red chili pepper (or ¼ tsp of crushed red chili peppers or chili oil or ½ tsp. of red chili past (Amore brand is in a convenient tube))
 
Salad:
1 chicken breast cooked and shredded
1 small cabbage, cored, halved and shredded fine (any kind you like)
or
8 oz. (dry) of rice noodles or bean thread noodles, cooked and drained
1 carrot shredded or julienne
1 cucumber seeded and julienne or sliced thin lengthwise
½ cup fresh mint or basil leaves
3 tbsps of chopped fresh cilantro
2 tbsps of chopped unsalted nuts (any kind, although peanuts are traditional)
 
Mix dressing and stir until the sugar is dissolved and set aside. Prepare salad ingredients and place in large bowl.  Toss salad with dressing and serve with quartered limes on the side.
 
Variations:

• Vegetarian salad: Omit the chicken and add thin slices of pepper, onion,  thin green beans, bean sprouts and cubed tofu
• Seafood: Top with warm grilled shrimp, scallops or squid for a real treat
• Beef:  Top with thin slices of rare grilled beef for a heartier salad
• Milder salad: Omit the chili pepper and it makes a milder sweet and sour dressing for cole slaw
• Spicier Salad: Use fresh, raw jalapenos or Serrano chilies – fiery and cooling at the same time!
• Add arugula or watercress for a more complex salad