Asian Noodle Bowls

• 3/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons nuoc mam (Vietnamese/Thai fish sauce)
• 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons Asian hot chili sauce (sriracha)
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger (optional)
• 1 package (about 1 pound) rice vermicelli
• 1 head leaf lettuce, torn into pieces
• 1/2 pound pea pods, blanched for 1 minute, covered, in the microwave
• 1/2 pound bean sprouts
• 1 small bunch fresh cilantro sprigs
• 1 small bunch fresh Thai or other basil
• 1 1/2 pounds leftover cheater beef, pork, chicken, or turkey, cut into chunks
• 1 bunch green onions, halved lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 fresh jalapeno peppers, sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped unsalted peanuts

1. COMBINE all the Noodle Bowl Sauce ingredients with 1/4 cup water in a medium bowl and set aside.
2. COOK the noodles according to package directions in boiling salted water.
3. Drain and rinse with cold water.
4. In individual serving bowls, Layer the lettuce, noodles, pea pods, bean sprouts, and sprigs of cilantro and basil.
5. ARRANGE the meat on top.
6. Sprinkle with the green onions, jalapenos, and peanuts, to taste.
7. DRIZZLE each serving with the Noodle Bowl Sauce.
8. Serve with fish sauce, hot sauce, and soy sauce at the table.

rice vinegar, sugar, nuoc, sesame oil, ginger, rice vermicelli, head leaf lettuce, pods, sprouts, cilantro sprigs, fresh thai, cheater beef, green onions, jalapeno peppers, peanuts

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/asian-noodle-bowls-391404 (may not work)