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Raw Pad Thai (OMG!)

Gena Hamshaw
Author:
October 7, 2014
Gena Hamshaw
Written by
Image by mbg creative + custom
October 7, 2014

Kelp noodles are literally made from kelp — a type of seaweed that’s rich in calcium, iron, and especially iodine.

The noodles are made with sodium alginate, a type of salt, and they’re typically without the use of heat, which is why they’re very popular with raw-foodists.

They’re a little bit crunchy, very light, and they make a wonderful alternative to conventional wheat pasta. While iodine is necessary in the diet, it's also possible to over-consume it, so I don’t recommend eating kelp noodles more than once or twice a week.

I like to serve kelp noodles in a variety of ways, but this Pad Thai recipe is one of my favorites.

The sauce is deeply enriched with tamarind paste, a specialty ingredient made from tamarind fruit that can be found at any Asian market, or through online retailers.

Raw Pad Thai

Serves 4

Ingredients for Pad Thai "Noodles":

  • 1 package (12 oz.) kelp noodles
  • 1 cup carrot, julienned or peeled into slips with a vegetable peeler
  • 1 cup julienned or spiralized zucchini
  • 1 cup shredded red cabbage
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Ingredients for Pad Thai Sauce:

Makes 1 cup

  • 6 Tbsp. almond butter
  • 1 Tbsp. tamarind paste
  • 1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
  • 1 Tbsp. tamari
  • 1 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 tsp. powdered ginger (or 1 Tbsp. grated, fresh ginger)
  • 1/2 cup water

Directions

1. Soak the kelp noodles in warm water for10 to 15 minutes. Shake them dry, then patthem very dry with a paper towel or kitchen towel. Use a pair of scissors to snip them into smaller pieces.

2. Blend all the sauce ingredients, along with one 1⁄2 cup of water, in a blender until smooth.

3. Mix the noodles thoroughly with the vegetables and cilantro. Add 1⁄2 cup of sauce and mix in. Add more sauce if needed, until the noodles are thoroughly coated with sauce. Serve, garnished with cilantro.

The pad Thai sauce will last for a week in the fridge. The noodle dish will keep for 2 days in the fridge.

Reprinted with permission from Choosing Raw by Gena Hamshaw. Courtesy of Da Capo Lifelong, © 2014

Gena Hamshaw author page.
Gena Hamshaw

Gena Hamshaw who has written the New Veganism column on Food52 since 2012, is a certified clinical nutritionist and the author of the book Choosing Raw. Gena has been published in O Magazine, VegNews, and Whole Living Daily. She lives in New York City, where she is completing her masters degree in nutrition at Columbia University and leads workshops and cooking classes.