The spacious dining room of Uncle Yu’s at the Vineyard in downtown Livermore provides a sophisticated setting for fine pan-Asian cuisine. To enhance the salad’s flavors, owner/sommelier Nick Liang offers 600 wines by the bottle and 50 by the glass, including an in-depth selection of Livermore wines.
Published: June 24, 2017
Ingredients
Ingredients for Dressing
Directions
In deep-bottomed skillet or pot, heat vegetable oil to 350˚F. Add rice noodles. Fry until they puff up. Set aside. Add taro root to skillet. Fry 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Set aside.
In skillet over low to medium heat, stir-fry peanuts until lightly toasted. Remove from heat and let cool. Chop peanuts finely. Set aside.
Mix cabbage, papaya, jicama, cucumber, carrots and grapefruit. Cool in ice-cold water for 30 minutes, then strain. Chill in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Place fried rice noodles on flat dish. Pile salad mix over noodles in pyramid shape. Wrap salmon slices around pyramid. Pour dressing (recipe at right) over salad. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and sesame seeds. Place taro roots on top. Garnish with micro arugula.
For dressing, combine ingredients in blender. Purée 30 seconds.
To serve, use two forks to toss salad until mixed. According to tradition, the higher salad is tossed, the more success it will bring. Serve immediately. Serves 4.
Pair It
White wines with a gentle hint of sweetness complement the textural and flavor complexity of the dish. Liang suggests two wines: Murrieta’s Well “The Whip” 2014 White Blend (Livermore Valley),which is led by Sémillon and Chardonnay; and BoaVentura de Caires 2014 White Table Wine (Livermore Valley), based on Albariño with 18% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Orange Muscat.