Salad recipes

This salad is subtle and very refreshing. There are a variety of textures-chewy cold noodles (bean thread noodles, some call them cellophane noodles 'cause when you boil them they become clear), crunchy sesame seeds, and crunchy cucumber slices. Sugar salt, and vinegar combine harmoniously, each understated but very much present.

Crunchy Southeast Asian cabbage salad with a tangy soy-vinegar dressing, fresh chiles, garlic, cucumber, and roasted peanuts. A bright, no-cook side ready in 10 minutes.

Chinese chicken salad with shredded roast chicken, bean sprouts, cucumber, and carrots in a sesame-tahini dressing with soy sauce, garlic, and rice wine. Crisp, nutty, and satisfying.

Overnight Chinese pasta salad with cool rice vermicelli, snow peas, cucumber, shrimp and crab in a sesame-ginger dressing. A make-ahead potluck favorite with serious crunch.

A light Chinese chicken noodle salad with angel hair pasta, shredded chicken breast, crisp snow peas, cucumber, and red bell pepper tossed in a teriyaki-sesame-rice vinegar dressing. Served cold or at room temperature.

Chinese pasta salad with shrimp, crab, rice vermicelli, and crisp vegetables in a sesame-ginger dressing. A cold noodle salad packed with fresh shellfish flavor.

Japanese chuka soba noodle salad tossed with cold shrimp, crisp cucumbers, bean sprouts, and a tangy rice vinegar-soy dressing. A make-ahead summer dish that travels well to potlucks.

A stunning cold Chinese platter of shredded vegetables, wood ear fungus, egg strips, and hand-pulled chicken, layered and dressed in a mustard-ginger-sesame-Chinkiang vinegar sauce. A showpiece salad for special occasions.