A lovely thing about summer in Melbourne is the amount of free music events that can be found in gorgeous park settings. Which is a lovely way to spend a Sunday evening. Particularly as a picnic the evening before your First Born starts school and work resumes for the year and routine craziness consumes your life.

The lack of a farmers market this weekend just gone left me with limited supplies and the heatwave left me with limited imagination. I did however come up with a noodle salad that satisfied all concerned. Of which I completely forgot to take a photo.

Cold noodle and crab salad
noodles of choice, cooked and drained (I used some thin dried Chinese egg noodles that were lurking in the pantry)
sesame oil
2 170g tins crab meat
1 red capsicum, diced
kernels of 1 corn cob
1 small cucumber diced
handful snowpeas, trimmed
Dressing
1 chilli, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
juice 1 lime
2 lime leaves, finely shredded
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 teaspoon palm sugar
2 tablespoons water

  1. Once noodles are drained but still hot, toss through 1 – 2 tablespoons sesame oil.
  2. Add vegetables and toss
  3. Dressing – combine all ingredients and dress immediately before serving.