Its not a Fad. That thing called Salad!

I don't always prepare Rich, fulfilling and Sinful meals. Occasionally SALADS come to the rescue and serve the same purpose as competently as a Multi Course Meal, while delivering healthier nutrients to our systems.

Salads don't deteriorate in intrinsic natural value of its ingredients by going through the nutrient destroying process called Cooking and they can be prepared with Vegetables, Fruits, Meats and Sea Food, individually or collectively and thus boast of the rare gift of being able to please everyone.

What Salad is to a Meal, is what Conscious Restraint is to life. The art of knowing what to SAY or DO. But MOST IMPORTANTLY when to stop while still getting the point across without diluting the effect.

Indulgence is natural to us Mortals. But RESTRAINT never harms. What can be deceptively destructive is SUPPRESSION. Anything in MODERATION has never known to have caused damage to anyone.

Salad works as a Starter as well as a Main Course and it doesn't have to be un-interesting or tasteless or deceivingly fattening due to the Dressings. Eating Salads with fattening dressings is like watching an adult Channel dressed in a Monks attire.

I am human, thus Indulgent by default. But luckily, enlightened enough to realize that be it Indulgence or Restraint, both can be fatal if practiced in perpetuity. I neither subscribe nor adhere to Moderation as the only way of Life, but I try to use that as a springboard of excuse for occasional dives into Culinary indulgences. And that's where SALAD MEALS make a grand entry.

A Salad successfully fulfills the demanding requirement of being HEALTHY, DELICIOUS, FILLING and NUTRITIOUS. All at the same time. This THAI GLASS NOODLE SALAD definitely makes the cut in terms of all the attributes, which, while confining themselves to the holy territory of Moderation, do flirt with the persuasive borders of Indulgence.

INGREDIENTS : Thai Glass Noodles, Vegetable Oil, Shrimps (Or Tofu and Mushrooms for Vegetarians), Salt and Black Pepper, Red Chillies, Lime Juice, Fish Sauce (Vinegar and Soy Sauce), Sugar, Shallots, Coriander, Celery, Lettuce and Browned Onions (optional).

DIRECTIONS : Let Noodles Soak in water for about 10 Minutes till they are soft, then add to the Pot of Boiling Water, reduce the heat to Medium and cook until the noodles are plump and Glass Like. Drain in a Colander and rinse with cold water and cut in 3 to 4 inch length.

Pour Oil in Skillet and when hot add Shrimp or Tofu, season with Salt and Pepper and leave to cool.

Mix Chili, Lime Juice, Fish Sauce, Sugar, Shallots, Coriander, Celery and Shrimp (or Tofu and Mushrooms). Pour over noodles and Mix thoroughly.

Serve on a bed of Lettuce and garnish with optional crisp fried brown Onions.

Go ahead. Try making it and eat it to your hearts content without ever stepping into the guilt laden territory of Indulgence or Gastronomic debauchery and still emerge with the same satisfaction and facial expression that these otherwise sinful acts would bring about. Bon Apetite!