Soba Noodle Salad with Ginger-Peanut Dressing

==Description==
soba are Japanese Buckwheat noodles - you can find them at some grocery stores; if not, any Asian food store should have them. (The recipe originally called for ramen, but I just couldn't do that to people). I've also had good luck finding dried shiitake Mushrooms at a reasonable price at Asian food stores. Prep time includes the final sitting time.
===Ingredients===
===Dressing ===
* 2 tablespoons ginger, minced <BR>
* 1/4 cup sweet rice wine (mirin) <BR>
* 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar or brown sugar <BR>
* 1/4 teaspoon sea salt <BR>
* 3 tablespoons Peanut butter <BR>
* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper <BR>
* 2 tablespoons soy sauce <BR>
* 2 tablespoons rice vinegar <BR>
* 1 teaspoon sesame oil 
===Salad ===
* 1 lb asparagus <BR>
* 2 ounces fresh snow Peas <BR> 
* 1 red bell pepper <BR>
* 3 ounces shiitake Mushrooms <BR>
* 1 cup bean sprouts, rinsed <BR>
* 8 ounces soba noodles <BR>
* 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, chopped 
===Directions===
Combine all dressing ingredients in a small pan and whisk over low heat until smooth. <BR>
Set aside. <BR>
Trim the asparagus and cut into 2-inch pieces. <BR>
Cut snow Peas into thirds after pulling the strings. <BR>
Cook the asparagus in boiling water for 3 minutes (time it!). <BR>
Add the snow Peas and cook another 30 seconds, then drain immediately in a colander and rinse with cold water until cool. <BR>
Pat the vegetables dry and put into a bowl. <BR>
Cut the pepper into 1/4 inch slices and slice the Mushrooms thinly. <BR>
Toss the pepper and Mushrooms with the asparagus, Peas, and bean sprouts as well as 3 tbs of dressing, then refrigerate. <BR>
Bring a pot of water to a boil, break the soba noodles into halves or thirds, and cook until tender. 
Drain and rinse. <BR>
Toss the noodles with the vegetable mix and the remaining dressing, then refrigerate for 15 minutes to let the flavors blend and the noodles absorb some of the dressing. <BR>
Garnish with peanuts and serve.
===Other Links===
==See also==
Category: Japanese Salads
Category:Japanese Recipes
Category: Bean sprouts Salad Recipes
Category: Cayenne pepper Salad Recipes
Category: Ginger Salad Recipes
category:Peanut Recipes
category:asparagus Recipes
category:ginger Recipes
category:sweet pepper Recipes
category:cayenne pepper Recipes
category:bean sprouts Recipes
category:pepper Recipes
category:glutinous rice Recipes
category:Buckwheat Recipes
category:ramen Recipes
category:soba Recipes
category:butter Recipes
category:oil Recipes
category:turbinado sugar Recipes
category:rice vinegar Recipes
category:brown sugar Recipes
category:Mushroom Recipes
category:sea salt Recipes
category:mirin Recipes
category:water Recipes
category:Fresh Peas Recipes