Spicy Sesame Noodle Salad (Printable)

Chilled noodles in a bold sesame-soy-chili dressing with cucumbers, herbs, and sesame seeds. Quick, refreshing, and vegetarian.

# What You'll Need:

→ Noodles

01 - 8.8 oz dried wheat noodles or soba noodles

→ Dressing

02 - 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 1.5 tablespoons rice vinegar
05 - 1 tablespoon chili oil
06 - 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter, optional
07 - 1 teaspoon sugar or honey
08 - 1 garlic clove, finely grated
09 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger

→ Vegetables and Toppings

10 - 1 medium cucumber, julienned or thinly sliced
11 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
12 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
13 - 0.25 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
14 - 0.25 cup roasted peanuts, roughly chopped, optional

# Directions:

01 - Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cooled. Set aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili oil, peanut butter if using, sugar, grated garlic, and ginger until smooth and well combined.
03 - Add cooled noodles to the bowl with dressing. Toss thoroughly to ensure noodles are evenly coated.
04 - Add cucumber, spring onions, and half of the sesame seeds, cilantro, and peanuts if using. Gently toss to combine all components.
05 - Transfer to a serving platter or individual bowls. Sprinkle with remaining sesame seeds, cilantro, and peanuts. Serve immediately or chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under half an hour and tastes like you spent way longer on it.
  • The dressing is endlessly adaptable, so you can make it as fiery or as mellow as your mood demands.
  • It's just as good straight from the fridge the next day, which makes it perfect for meal prep or surprise guests.
02 -
  • Rinsing the noodles under cold water is not optional, if you skip this step they'll stick together in a gummy mass and won't take the dressing well.
  • Taste the dressing before you add the noodles, because once everything is mixed it's much harder to adjust the balance of flavors.
  • If you're making this ahead, hold back some of the cucumber and herbs and add them just before serving so they stay crisp and bright.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for a minute or two before using them, it makes their flavor so much more pronounced and adds a beautiful nutty aroma.
  • Use a microplane to grate the garlic and ginger directly into the dressing, it breaks them down finely so they blend in smoothly without any harsh bites.
  • If you want a gluten-free version, swap in rice noodles and use tamari instead of soy sauce, just make sure to check all your labels for hidden wheat.
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