Asian Sesame Noodle Salad (Print Version)

Noodles combined with fresh veggies and a savory peanut dressing for a refreshing, light meal option.

# Components:

→ 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 bell pepper, red or yellow, 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 and rinse with cold water. Toss with 1 teaspoon sesame oil to prevent sticking and set aside.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, toasted sesame oil, ginger, and minced garlic. Add warm water gradually until reaching desired pourable consistency. Stir in sriracha if desired.
03 - In a large bowl, combine cooked noodles, red cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, spring onions, cucumber, and fresh cilantro.
04 - Pour peanut dressing over noodle mixture and toss thoroughly until all components are evenly coated.
05 - Transfer to serving platter or individual bowls. Top with toasted sesame seeds, additional cilantro, and chopped peanuts.
06 - Serve immediately for warm salad or refrigerate for 20 minutes for chilled preparation.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you'd think, leaving your hands free to actually enjoy your afternoon instead of being stuck at the stove.
  • The peanut dressing is that rare thing that tastes indulgent without requiring any special technique or hard-to-find ingredients.
  • Leftovers actually improve after a night in the fridge, so meal prep becomes genuinely effortless.
02 -
  • If your dressing breaks and becomes grainy, you added cold water instead of warm; start over with warm water and whisk slowly, and it'll come back together.
  • The sesame oil is what makes this taste like something special instead of just noodles with peanut butter; don't skimp or swap it out with vegetable oil.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for about two minutes if you buy them raw; they smell amazing and taste infinitely better than the pre-toasted version that's been sitting on a shelf.
  • Keep extra warm water nearby while making the dressing so you can adjust the consistency without having to reheat anything or make a second trip to the sink.
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