WATCH: How to cook a gourmet meal while living in a dorm

For most post-secondary students, living on campus can be incredibly fun and liberating.

And for many it might be your first time living on your own, and that means you need to fend for yourself in the kitchen if you’re not on a meal plan.

But that doesn’t mean you need to survive on cup ramen and protein bars for the next eight months.

Chef Rob Rossi from the Food Network’s new show Chef In Your Ear has cooked up a simple and budget-friendly meal that’ll make your taste buds dance and your dormmates envious.

The only tools you need are a kettle and a julienne vegetable peeler, both readily available at any kitchen supply store.

Vietnamese Noodle Salad

Ingredients:

• Rice vermicelli
• Cooked chicken breast
• Carrots
• Cucumber
• Hoisin sauce
• Fish sauce
• Soy sauce
• Lime (optional)
• Bird’s eye chili (optional)
• Cilantro (optional)
• Peanuts (optional)

Method:

1. Bring some water to a boil and soak the vermicelli noodles in a bowl with the hot water. Drain and cool.
2. Peel the carrots and cucumber (or any vegetables you like) and set on top of your noodles.
3. Shred the chicken breast and add to your noodle bowl.
4. Combine the hoisin, fish and soy sauces to make a simple dressing.
5. Optional: To really take your salad bowl to the next level, add a squeeze of lime, some bird’s eye chili, sprigs of cilantro and a handful of peanuts for that final gourmet touch.