Shrimp and Soba Noodle Salad

 Garlic Shrimp and Soba Noodle Salad

 This is my kind of lunch or dinner! Sorry, I don't have a great story to tell with this recipe.  It's just a great salad that I hope you'll enjoy.  This recipe was inspired by a salad I had in a restaurant recently.  Hope you love it too!    

1 lb. soba noodles, cooked according to package directions and drained

Bunch of fresh spinach

2 red or yellow peppers, julienned

1 cucumber, peeled, sliced lengthwise, seeded with spoon, julienned

1 carrot peeled and grated or julienned 

Peanut sauce:

½ cup peanut butter

4 tablespoons mayonnaise or coconut cream

4 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

4 teaspoons honey

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced

2 tablespoons sesame oil

½ cup vegetable oil

Garlic Shrimp:

1 lb. large shrimp

1 lemon, zested first and then juiced

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

¼ teaspoon salt

Fresh ground pepper

To make the Garlic Shrimp, first, combine shrimp, lemon zest, juice and remaining ingredients for garlic shrimp together in a bowl.  Refrigerate for 2-3 hours, if possible.  Combine all ingredients for peanut sauce in bowl of food processor and pulse to combine.  Set peanut sauce aside.  Cook soba noodles and toss with half of the peanut sauce.  Set remaining half of peanut sauce aside.  In individual serving bowls or in a large serving bowl, place spinach on the bottom of bowl.  Top with noodles followed by shrimp and cut vegetables.  Drizzle with extra peanut sauce and crushed salted peanuts if desired.