Indonesian Rice Noodles

I am usually someone who just throws things together and hopes for the best when cooking, but sometimes I find blogs and cookbooks that are just so good that I have to follow their recipes word for word. One of the best vegetarian/vegan cookbooks I have gotten was gifted to me by Andrew's family, and it is called Quick Fix Vegetarian. The recipes are simple and healthy and use delicious and unusual ingredients. I have made multiple recipes from this book, but my favorite is definitely Indonesian noodles. I have made them for multiple dinner parties and received rave reviews, so I have made them a part of my regular rotation. However, when I made them last night I decided to mix it up a little bit and make the recipe healthier by excluding the oil. I also used rice noodles instead of linguine, which the original recipe calls for. One extra touch I added was "do it yourself" toppings, which just makes it so much more fun. For this part I just crushed some peanuts, chopped parsley, and sliced limes. It really added so much flavor to the dish, and, I can't lie, I am just a sucker for any DIY topping situation. I officially have a new staple in my vegan cooking routine!

the best part--toppings!

Indonesian Rice Noodles

• 1 box of pad thai rice noodles
• 1/2 red cabbage
• approx. 1/4 cup tamari (Japanese soy sauce)
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp. minced ginger
• 1 tbsp. red chili paste
• Salt, to taste
• Crushed peanuts
• Chopped parsley
• 1 lime, sliced

1. Cook the rice noodles as per the directions. Set aside.
2. Spray a large pan with nonstick spray. Heat on medium.
3. Add the scallions, garlic, and ginger. Cook for about 4-5 minutes, until slightly browned.
4. Add the cabbage, tamari, and chili paste and stir.
5. Cover and cook for about 8-10 minutes, until cabbage starts to get a little tender.
6. Add the rice noodles to the pan, and mix thoroughly until the cabbage mixture and sauce is evenly coating the noodles. 
7. Serve in a large bowl with toppings on the side. You can use any toppings you like!
8. Enjoy :)