Asian Sesame Noodle Salad (Printable Version)

Refreshing noodle salad with crisp veggies and savory peanut dressing, perfect for a light meal.

# What You Need:

→ Noodles

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

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
04 - 1 cup julienned carrots
05 - 1 bell pepper (red or yellow), thinly sliced
06 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
07 - 1/2 cup cucumber, julienned
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

# Steps:

01 - Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly, rinse with cold water, and toss with 1 teaspoon sesame oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, toasted sesame oil, ginger, minced garlic, and sriracha. Add warm water gradually while whisking until dressing reaches a pourable consistency.
03 - In a large bowl, combine cooled noodles, shredded red cabbage, julienned carrots, sliced bell pepper, sliced spring onions, julienned cucumber, and fresh cilantro.
04 - Pour prepared 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 salad or chill for 20 minutes for a cold version. Add peanuts just before serving to maintain crunch.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 30 minutes flat, making it perfect for weeknight dinners when you're short on time but hungry for something special.
  • The peanut dressing is silky and deeply satisfying, hitting that savory-sweet-spicy balance that makes you want another bite before your fork even touches your plate.
  • You can prep everything ahead and toss it together minutes before eating, which means fewer dishes and more time actually enjoying your meal.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the cooked noodles with cold water—hot noodles will wilt everything they touch and turn your crisp salad into something limp and sad.
  • Make the dressing first, before you cut any vegetables, because whisking peanut butter is awkward and you'll want to taste it multiple times to get the balance exactly right.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for exactly 30 seconds—any longer and they go from toasty to burnt with no warning, so stay present and listen for the smell shift.
  • Make the dressing while the noodles are still cooking so you can taste it and adjust before you commit everything together, saving yourself from last-minute panic.
Go Back