Easy Oriental Salad a.k.a. Ramen Salad

Several years ago my sister made a salad that we all went nuts over. I got the recipe from her and tweaked it. (Of course.) Somehow, my family now calls it: " MY SALAD - You know, the one everyone loves?" Poor Tray. I have no idea how it became my salad, everyone makes it. So today I was telling some friends that we were going to a carry-in tonight and what I was taking. When I said "Ramen Salad," I had everyone's attention. After I explained that is what my family had taken to calling it there were still questions. Now, I thought everyone and there brother made this salad. Evidently not, because I found several today that had no idea what I was talking about. So here it is in a nutshell.

Easy Oriental Salad a.k.a. Ramen Salad

• broccoli slaw mix - one bag   
• 2 bunches of green onions
• 1/2 - 3/4 of a  7.25 ounce jar of salted sunflower seeds
• 1 each chicken ramen and beef ramen, crushed (for the different flavors - if your are vegetarian you can use the veggie flavored ramen)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 packets of seasoning left over from the above ramen
• 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil

In a medium sized mixing bowl, in order -  put the first 4 ingredients. In a separate bowl mix the next 4 ingredients using a whisk to completely combine the ingredients. Let the sauce sit for approximately 10 minutes and whisk again before pouring it over salad. Immediately stir the salad making sure to coat all the ingredients. Serve.

This is a very easy salad to take on the go. I set up my salad, minus the sunflower seeds. I open the sunflower seeds and pour them into a Ziploc baggie. Using the jar for the sunflower seeds I pour all my sauce ingredients and after a good stir I can put the lid on and we are ready to go. When I arrived at my destination, all I have to do is add my sunflower seeds and give my sauce a good shake or two and pour it on, mix and the salad is ready. Everyone will rave and give you kudos. After having a serving or two of the salad yourself you can sit back and receive all the wonderful accolades knowing you did next to nothing.

Enjoy!

Kerri Downey