Asian Shrimp Salad With Spicy Peanut Dressing

As the days get colder and leaves fall, a warmed salad fills not only the belly but also comforts the soul. One will love the hot and cold combination of this salad.

Ingredients
1 romaine lettuce , shredded
1 English cucumber, finely sliced
1 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup minced shallot or onion
4 cups rice noodles, cooked to packet instructions
16 large shrimp, whole, seared and cooked through
2 tablespoons finely chopped green onion

Toasted sesame seeds
Cilantro sprigs and chopped roasted peanuts to garnish

Peanut Sauce
1 tin coconut milk
2 juicy garlic cloves, minced (not the jarred please)
1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste
3 tablespoons sugar
1 cup ground roasted unsalted peanuts


Directions
1. Combine all the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring constantly ( be sure to keep stirring, as once thickened, has a tendency to catch on the bottom).

2. In a large bowl toss lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes and shallot together and divide among 4 plates. Top with warm rice noodles, seared shrimp and hot peanut sauce. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.

3. Feel free to garnish dish with roasted peanuts and sprigs of cilantro, and serve.