Cold Noodle Salad Sesame-Ginger (Printer-Friendly)

A refreshing blend of chilled noodles, crisp veggies, and zesty sesame-ginger dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Noodles

01 - 8.8 oz dried soba noodles or rice noodles

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
03 - 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
04 - 1 cucumber, seeded and julienned
05 - 3 spring onions, finely sliced
06 - 1.8 oz red cabbage, thinly shredded
07 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Sesame-Ginger Dressing

08 - 3 tbsp soy sauce
09 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar
10 - 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
11 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
12 - 1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
13 - 1 garlic clove, minced
14 - 1 tsp Sriracha or chili sauce (optional)
15 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

→ Toppings

16 - 2 tbsp roasted peanuts or cashews, roughly chopped
17 - 1 tbsp additional sesame seeds

# How To Make It:

01 - Boil noodles in a large pot following package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water, then set aside to cool completely.
02 - Julienne the carrot and cucumber, thinly slice the red bell pepper and spring onions, shred the red cabbage, and chop the cilantro. Set aside.
03 - Whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, honey or maple syrup, grated ginger, minced garlic, Sriracha if desired, and toasted sesame seeds in a small bowl.
04 - In a large bowl, toss together the cooled noodles, prepared vegetables, and cilantro. Pour the dressing over and mix thoroughly to coat evenly.
05 - Divide the salad into serving bowls, then garnish with roasted peanuts or cashews and additional sesame seeds.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for 1 hour to allow flavors to meld for enhanced taste.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sesame-ginger dressing wakes up your palate with a perfect balance of salty, sweet, and tangy notes
  • You can prep everything in advance and keep it in the fridge for those days when cooking feels impossible
02 -
  • Rinse the noodles under cold water immediately after draining to stop the cooking process and prevent them from becoming a gummy mess
  • The dressing might seem thick at first, but the moisture from the vegetables will thin it out perfectly as it sits
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and golden brown, then let them cool before using
  • Use a vegetable peeler to quickly julienne the carrots and cucumber into ribbons if you want to save time
Go Back