Asian Sesame Noodle Salad (Printable)

Tender noodles and fresh vegetables tossed with a flavorful peanut dressing deliver a refreshing and light dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Noodles

01 - 9 oz dried soba noodles or spaghetti
02 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
04 - 1 cup julienned carrots
05 - 1 red or yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
06 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
07 - 1/2 cup julienned cucumber
08 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
09 - 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, roughly chopped

→ Peanut Dressing

10 - 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
11 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free
12 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
13 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
14 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
15 - 1 to 2 tablespoons warm water
16 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
17 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
18 - 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili sauce, optional

→ Garnish

19 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
20 - Extra cilantro and peanuts as desired

# Directions:

01 - Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly and rinse with cold water. Toss with 1 teaspoon sesame oil to prevent sticking and set aside.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, ginger, and minced garlic. Whisk until smooth, adding warm water gradually until a pourable consistency is achieved. Stir in sriracha if desired.
03 - In a large bowl, combine cooled noodles with shredded cabbage, carrots, sliced bell pepper, spring onions, cucumber, and fresh cilantro.
04 - Pour the peanut dressing over the noodle mixture and toss thoroughly until all components are evenly coated.
05 - Transfer salad to a serving platter or individual bowls. Top with toasted sesame seeds, additional cilantro, and chopped peanuts.
06 - Serve immediately for warm noodles or refrigerate for 20 minutes for a chilled presentation. For optimal texture, add roasted peanuts immediately before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in thirty minutes, which means you can have lunch ready before your coffee gets cold.
  • The peanut dressing is addictive enough that you'll find yourself making extra just to have on hand.
  • It tastes even better the next day, so meal prep becomes effortless rather than a chore.
02 -
  • Never mix the chopped peanuts into the salad until you're about to serve it, or they'll absorb dressing and turn into a sad, soggy paste instead of staying crispy and textured.
  • Taste the dressing on its own before combining it with the salad; once everything's mixed, it's too late to fix a seasoning mistake, and the noodles will mask any imbalance.
03 -
  • If your peanut butter is the natural kind with oil on top, stir it thoroughly before measuring or the dressing will be greasier than intended.
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry skillet for thirty seconds just before serving—they go from dormant to fragrant and it's worth the tiny bit of effort.
Go Back