Fresh Summer Roll Rice Noodle Bowl

This fresh, healthy rice noodle salad mixes crisp vegetables and herbs with a spicy, tangy-sweet almond butter and lime dressing.

Okay, so you’ve made (and maybe already broken) those resolutions.

No worries — today is a perfect opportunity to hit the reset button on your diet, if you’re feeling so inclined.

Make this wholesome vegetarian noodle bowl, full of vibrant flavor and crisp, colorful ingredients.

This salad is kind of like a deconstructed summer roll or Vietnamese spring roll, loaded with fresh cooling herbs and crunchy vegetables.

The start of a new year seems to be the time when everyone starts to obsess about cleaning up bad habits that kicked in during the holiday season.

In particular, food can be characterized as indulgent — downright naughty, even — and the siren call of diet plans and cleanses is everywhere.

What does clean eating mean?

In my opinion, it’s problematic to label a particular way of eating as “clean.”

That means we’re making an assumption that there must be food that’s unclean.

As a person passionate about spreading the love for cooking and eating, that kind of rubs me the wrong way.

Food isn’t “dirty.” Unless,  of course, that food has been so ultra-processed that by definition it’s no longer a natural substance!

Enjoying food is and should be a daily pleasure, particularly around the holidays, when it can be the focal point of gathering and celebrating.

At the same time, the thing about an amazing party is that while overindulging in food, wine and rock-and-roll feels perfect in the moment, the aftereffects are draining and taxing on the body.

If your plate feels unbalanced after weeks of debauchery or simply because of some habits that could use a change, an appetite recalibration is a perfect way to make a fresh start.

Starting Fresh

“Getting healthy” doesn’t have to trigger the urge to buy magical smoothie powders or elixirs.

It can simply mean making simple shifts, like cutting out excess sugar and alcohol and eating more of the foods that might have fallen by the wayside.

Ultimately, it means choosing good food — the real thing! — and keeping things simple.

That translates to getting most of your nutrients from lean healthy proteins, unprocessed ingredients, whole grains and lots of fresh produce.

All vegetables have super powers, as they’re naturally full of nutrients, fiber and molecules that support well-being.

This noodle salad recipe is a fresh, healthy meal-in-a-bowl you can make with supermarket produce.

It’s inspired by fragrant herbs and ingredients typical of Southeast Asian cooking, each one packed with its own superfood qualities.

Supermarket produce with superfood power:

• Cilantro, Basil and Mint: A holy trinity of herbs that create a flavor bomb in just about anything you put them in, especially when they’re used in combination. These aromatic tender greens are abundant in chlorophyll, vitamins A, C and K as well as calcium and manganese. Cilantro is very high in selenium, a natural detoxifier.
• Shallots and Green Onions: The savory, sharp bite of these members of the allium family makes them indispensable in cuisines around the world. Two of their many healthy attributes: high levels of antioxidants and sulfur, which can help lower cholesterol and soothe inflammation.
• Garlic: Besides the fact that the smell of sizzling garlic makes your mouth water, this bulb’s healing properties include stimulating metabolism, fighting infection and promoting healthy gut bacteria.
• Ginger: The gentle warmth and zesty nature of this refreshing rhizome also boasts powerful medicinal qualities, such as stimulating the digestive process and blood circulation.
• Carrots: These tapered roots add sweetness, vibrant color and texture to dishes, especially when raw or lightly cooked. Carrots contain high levels of beta carotene and are revered in holistic medicine for boosting liver function and toning the kidneys.
• Almonds: A perfect source of healthy fats, fiber and vitamin E, these little protein powerhouses make a delicious nut butter, which forms the base of the creamy, spicy-sweet dressing in this recipe.

More nourishing vegetarian reset recipes:

• Winter Salad with Fennel and Pomegranate
• Warm French Lentil Salad
• Asian Vegetable Slaw with Ginger Tahini Dressing
• Harvest Root Vegetable Salad with Chimichurri

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