Saturday Share Recipe - Asian Crunch Coleslaw

Good morning! I’m getting a late start today. It’s been a very busy week, and I want to fix something easy for today’s lunch.

A salad that’s a little different is on my menu today. I call it Asian Crunch Coleslaw. Many of you have probably prepared this before, if not, then you’re in for a treat.

When I make this salad, it takes me back to my time in Japan. I lived in an apartment at the bottom of a steep hill. Across from my apartment was what we called a Mamasan store—a small grocery run by a married couple who were in their early 30s.

They spoke no English, but somehow we communicated. While I lived in that apartment, began to learn Japanese, and they learned some English. I loved my years in Japan.

The mamasan store was similar to the one in the photo at right, but it was much smaller and in a stand-alone unpainted wood building, but merchandise was displayed outside as in this photo when inventory was larger than display space inside.

 One of the things I’d do on Sunday afternoons was walk up the hill to the noodle shop. This wasn’t a restaurant but a small place that made ramen noodles for groceries and restaurants.

There was a picture window in front where you could stand outside and watch them make noodles. Watching the process of turning raw ingredients into mountains of ramen was amazing.

The lowly ramen has always been a favorite of mine, and I learned to make a couple of Okinawan dishes using ramen. However, today;’s recipe wasn’t one I learned to make in Okinawa.

This recipe came from a friend many years ago. I embraced the recipe because it uses ramen.

I hope you enjoy this hearty dish. I’ve included links to organic Ramen since it’s healthier. The kind I linked to does not come with flavoring packets so I’ve included seasoning ingredients as well as a link to Sungiven Ramen Seasoning for a shortcut.

If you’re not concerned with “clean” eating, simply use any Ramen brand and the flavoring packet. However, at the very least, look for a ramen without MSG. 

ASIAN CRUNCH COLESLAW 

Ingredients-Salad

2 tablespoons sesame seeds

1/4 cup sliced raw almonds

1 package Ramen noodles, broken in pieces

1 cup finely shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix

1/4 cup finely chopped green onions

Ingredients-Dressing

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 tablespoons sugar or honey

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

* 1 flavor packet

* OR Option #1 Sungiven Ramen Seasoning 

* OR Option #2: about 2 teaspoons of your ingredients—onion powder, chicken boullion powder, garlic powder, ginger powder, 1-2 teaspoons soy sauce

Directions

1. Toss the salad ingredients into a large bowl.

2. Mix the dressing ingredients well. Since there is soy sauce in the flavoring packet and in my list of flavoring ingredients, I have not included salt. Adjust the seasonings to your taste, i.e., if you like a more pronounced flavor, add a little more.

3. Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients.

4. Serve immediately.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Spring begins salad weather. I’m always looking for creative ways to serve healthy vegetables. I think using orgnaic Ramen and healthy ingredients makes the salad a winner.

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Joan Reeves aka SlingWords: The Word Slinging Adventures of Joan Reeves