Spicy Sesame Noodle Salad (Print version)

Chilled noodles in sesame-soy-chili dressing with crisp cucumbers, spring onions, and fresh herbs. Vegetarian and dairy-free.

# 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

# How to Make It:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than most takeout orders and tastes better every time.
  • The dressing clings to every strand of noodle without feeling heavy or oily.
  • You can make it ahead and it actually improves as the flavors settle in the fridge.
  • It works as a side dish, a packed lunch, or a full meal depending on your mood and hunger.
02 -
  • Rinse the noodles thoroughly after cooking or they'll clump together and resist the dressing.
  • Make the dressing first so the flavors have time to marry while the noodles cool.
  • If the salad sits for more than an hour, the noodles will soak up the dressing, so keep a little extra on hand to toss in before serving.
03 -
  • Use a microplane to grate the garlic and ginger so fine they disappear into the dressing instead of clumping.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before adding them, it makes a noticeable difference in flavor.
  • Toss the noodles with a tiny drizzle of neutral oil after rinsing to keep them from sticking while they wait.
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