Peanut Udon Noodle Salad

"If you know udon (those hearty, wheat-flour noodles made famous in Japanese cuisine), you probably know udon in the context of soup. Trader Joe's Peanut Udon Noodle Salad brings this particular pasta to a chilled application, rich in texture and robust in flavor. Authentic udon noodles made with organic wheat flour are boiled and drained, then mixed with fresh carrot matchsticks. The soft & chewy vs. crisp & crunchy contrast is crave-able; the crunch factor is amped up with the addition of green and red cabbage, red bell peppers, and dry roasted peanuts. The more aromatic flavors of diced green onion and cilantro enhance the profile, to be sure, but it's the peanut-ginger dressing that Thai-s it all together. (Yes, we did that.) Peanut butter, soy sauce, and rice vinegar make up the dressing base; ginger purée, lemon grass, garlic, lime juice, dried red chili peppers, basil, ground Thai lime leaf, spearmint, and cayenne pepper give it personality galore. This vegan salad is a great grab-n-go lunch, though the package contains about two-and-a-half servings. It also makes a wonderful fresh side dish for chicken skewers."