Marco Polo's Pasta Salad

Insalata Mediterranea di Spaghettini Orientale
Mediterranean-Styled Glass-Noodle Salad

Ok- this is a strange one for you... combining Chinese glass-noodles with Mediterranean ingredients to make a Summer salad dish... hmmm! I wonder how that would work?

Well as it happens- it worked pretty damned well and was a nice enough treat that old Marco Polo would have probably even approved! Quick, easy and inexpensive, healthy, tasty and light, this is a perfect mid-day snack for a hot Summers day... read on!

This really is a 10- minute, ultra no-fuss little meal. You will need a kettle, a bowl and a frying pan... a red pepper, a couple of spring onions, a handful of snow-peas, a handful of olives and a few capers. Seasonings are basil, lime juice, mint, chili flakes and extra-virgin olive oil. Let's get this party started!

Glass (or cellophane) noodles are so convenient. Just pour boiling water over them and let them sit in a bowl for 10 minutes. Ready! Pretty cool, huh?

In the meantime, turn your grill pan up really high and put your sliced of red pepper on there. Just let them sit and char a little- we want that nice toasted flavor! After 5 minutes, add the onions and snow peas... And that it all the cooking you are going to be doing today!


You may as well call your guests already, because you have only 1-2 minutes of work left! Time to put this baby together!

Give the noodles a good squeeze of lime juice and a drizzle of olive oil. Add the
 grilled peppers, peas and onion and some finely sliced basil and mint. A pinch of salt, a pinch of sugar and a fresh grind of chili powder. Garnish with black olives, capers and a little more olive oil and simply enjoy!