Thai Noodle Salad with Vegetables and Spicy Peanut Sauce

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound udon noodles (thick, round fresh Japanese wheat noodles) or spaghetti
• 6 cups thinly sliced romaine lettuce
• 4 cups thinly sliced green cabbage
• 2 cups coarsely shredded peeled uncooked sweet potato
• 12 thinly sliced red bell pepper rings
• 12 thinly sliced green bell pepper rings
• 1 cup coarsely shredded peeled daikon or carrot
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• Spicy Peanut Sauce
• Fresh basil leaves, cilantro sprigs, and mint sprigs (optional)

Preparation

1. Cook noodles in boiling water for 3 minutes (omit seasoning packet, if included). Drain; rinse under cold water, and set aside.
2. Combine lettuce and cabbage in a large bowl; toss well. Spread lettuce mixture over a large platter. Place noodles in center of platter on top of lettuce mixture. Arrange sweet potato, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, daikon, and bean sprouts around noodles in individual mounds over lettuce mixture.
3. Drizzle Spicy Peanut Sauce over salad. Garnish with basil, cilantro, and mint, if desired.