Get minted; Use your noodle for this simple salad dish.

Byline: Paul Heathcote

top tipple NOODLES make a really good snack-type dish, whether they are hot or cold, but this dish can be made a little in advance and kept chilled in the fridge.

It really works well with good fresh herbs and seafood, although you could substitute the prawns I have used in the recipe for some finely shredded cooked chicken or beef.

MINTED NOODLE SALAD (serves 4 as a main or 6 as a starter) Ingredients 2 large carrots peeled 150g mange tout, trimmed 250g fine Thai rice noodles ' cucumber, peeled 2 little gem lettuce hearts, shredded 2 bunches of chives, finely snipped 1 small bunch of mint 2 small bunches of coriander 1 Thai chilli, or to taste, finely chopped 400g cooked and peeled Canadian prawns Juice of 2 limes 2 tbsp soy sauce 6 tbsp toasted sesame oil 1 lime, cut into wedges Method 1. Finely slice the carrots into matchsticks and place in a large mixing bowl. Drop the mange tout into a pan of boiling water for up to 30 seconds, so they retain their crunch, then quickly drain and cool under the cold tap. Pat dry on kitchen paper, finely slice and mix with the carrots.

2. Prepare the rice noodles according to the instructions on the packet. Usually, this entails soaking them in boiling water for 5 minutes, then draining thoroughly. If possible, leave to drip for a further 10 minutes.

3. Cut the cucumber in half lengthways and use a teaspoon to remove the seeds. Slice into thin matchsticks and mix into the vegetables with the shredded lettuce and snipped chives. 4. Strip the herb leaves from their stems, roughly slice the leaves and add to the vegetables along with the drained rice noodles and chopped chilli.

5. Squeeze the prawns dry in kitchen paper and mix into the salad. Finally, pour 3 tbsp lime juice, 3 tbsp soy sauce and 6 tbsp sesame oil into the salad and mix thoroughly. Serve garnished with lime wedges.

FRUITY and zesty with floral notes and clean citrus flavours a Sancerre like Fouassier's La Pierre Blanche 2008, could work well with this noodle salad.

It even has hints of lemongrass, perfect for a Thai style dish. Priced pounds 10.99 at www.majestic.co.uk

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Paul Heathcote's minted noodle salad