Basil Thai Noodles With Bison And Zucchini + Spicy Quick Pickled Cucumber

• Basil Thai Noodles with Bison and Zucchini
• 1/2 pound wide rice noodles
• 1 tablespoon 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil, divided
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
• 1 pound ground bison or grass fed ground beef (or tempeh if vegan)
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
• 1 inch piece ginger, peeled and minced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons coconut aminos, or 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon coconut sugar
• 1 large carrot, thin matchstick cut or bias cut
• 1 large zucchini, medium matchstick cut
• 1 ounce Thai basil or regular basil (about 1 cup picked leaves), stemmed and left whole
• 2 limes, juiced
• 3 scallions, bias cut (reserve some of the green cuts for garnish)
• 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, to finish
• Spicy Quick Pickled Cucumber
• 1 cucumber, peeled and cut into quarter moons
• 1 clove garlic, smashed and peeled
• Pinch red pepper flakes
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon coconut sugar

1. Cook wide rice noodles 9 minutes (may vary depending on the brand you buy- check package directions), and toss with toasted sesame oil and sesame seeds. Set aside.
2. Saute ground meat in oil in a large high sided skillet over high heat. Break it up as it cooks, but be careful not to agitate too much- you want to allow the meat to brown. Season with salt and remove from pan with a slotted spoon or spatula and add to noodles, trying to keep drippings in the pan.
3. In the same pan you used to cook the meat, saute onion, ginger, and garlic in drippings and remaining 2 teaspoons of toasted sesame oil over medium high heat, about 5 minutes. Deglaze pan with coconut aminos and fish sauce. Add carrot and zucchini and continue to cook, tossing frequently, about 5-8 minutes or until softened. Add vegetables to noodles, along with basil, lime juice and scallion. Toss and serve. Garnish with reserved scallion and more sesame seeds or some roasted peanuts.
4. Great with sesame roasted broccoli and spicy quick pickled cucumber (below).
5. l ingredients, cover, and let marinate 20 minutes or overnight.

basil, rice noodles, sesame oil, sesame seeds, ground bison, salt, yellow onion, ginger, garlic, coconut aminos, fish sauce, coconut sugar, carrot, zucchini, basil, scallions, peanuts, cucumber, cucumber, clove garlic, red pepper, salt, rice vinegar, coconut sugar

Taken from food52.com/recipes/62942-basil-thai-noodles-with-bison-and-zucchini-spicy-quick-pickled-cucumber (may not work)