This Garlic Lime Shrimp Rice Noodles recipe is a flavor-packed lunch or dinner meal that's also super easy, fast and versatile! Fresh, vibrant flavors and simple to make.Makes 2 generous portions, or 3 standard portions.
1lblarge shrimpspeeled, de-veined (see recipe notes)
Generous pinch of salt
1tbsplime juice
Garlic Lime Sauce (Nuoc Cham Sauce)
4garlic cloves
3tbsplime juice
3tbspbrown sugar
¼cupwater
1tbspfish sauce
1tbspwater
2tspcornstarch
2 - 3Thai red chili peppers, sliceddeseeded OR 1 tsp sambal oelek
Noodle Salad
7ozdry rice noodlesflat rice noodles or thin noodles
4spring onionssliced thin
1 - 2cupsshredded lettuce
1large carrotjulienned
½cucumberjulienned
cilantro
Roasted peanutschopped
Instructions
Shrimp
Pat dry the shrimp to remove any moisture. Mix the shrimp with the salt, and set aside.
Heat a large pan with 2 - 3 tbsp of oil on medium-high heat. When the oil it hot, pan fry the shrimp. Cook each side for about 2 - 3 minutes, until there's some caramelization on each side. Cook in two batches to avoid over-crowding the pan.
Toss the cooked shrimp with the fresh lime juice in a bowl. Then keep it in the fridge until needed, OR cover the bowl with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Garlic Lime Sauce
Mix the 1 tbsp water with the cornstarch. Mix it into a slurry and set aside.
Place all the ingredients in a saucepan, EXCEPT for the cornstarch slurry and the sliced red chili peppers. Heat over medium heat and stir to dissolve the sugar. Bring the sauce to a boil.
Whisk in the cornstarch slurry and add the red chili peppers as well.
Cook the sauce for another 1 - 2 minutes, until it reaches a thick, sauce-like consistency. Taste and season with extra salt or fish sauce if needed.
Set aside to cool down.
Noodle Salad
Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Rinse and keep it in the fridge to chill.
When you're ready to serve the salad, wash and prepare the vegetables.
Add one half of the garlic lime sauce to the shrimp and toss to combine. Set aside the rest of the sauce.
Divide the shredded lettuce into three bowls or lunch boxes.
Top with rice noodles, and drizzle the remaining garlic lime sauce over the rice noodles in the three bowls. Divide the shrimp between the three bowls as well.
Add the cucumber, carrots and cilantro. Sprinkle with spring onions and chopped peanuts. Serve.
Notes
Note on shrimp
We prefer shrimp with the tail on. But you're welcome to remove the tails if you prefer. See my detailed guide here on how to clean shrimp.
Note on spice level
De-seed the Thai red chili peppers to reduce the heat. Sambal oelek is less spicy than Thai red chili. You can leave it out altogether if you prefer it mild.You can serve this recipe cold or warm. If you like it warm, gently warm the shrimp with the garlic lime sauce and serve with freshly cooked rice noodles.