Spicy Sesame Noodle Salad (Print page)

Chilled noodles in a bold sesame-soy-chili dressing with crisp cucumbers, spring onions, and fresh herbs. Ready in 25 minutes.

# What You 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 the 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 Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than ordering takeout and tastes just as exciting.
  • The dressing clings to every strand, so theres no bland bite in the bowl.
  • You can eat it cold straight from the fridge or at room temperature without losing any flavor.
  • It works as a side dish, a packed lunch, or dinner when you add protein on top.
02 -
  • Rinse the noodles thoroughly after cooking or they'll stick together in a gummy mass by the time you add the dressing.
  • Whisk the dressing until the peanut butter dissolves completely, otherwise you'll get clumps that refuse to mix in later.
  • Taste the dressing before tossing it with the noodles, it should be bold and a little too intense on its own because the noodles will mellow it out.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan until they smell nutty and start to pop, it takes two minutes and makes a noticeable difference.
  • Grate the ginger and garlic on a fine grater so they blend into the dressing instead of floating in chunks.
  • If you want more heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the dressing or drizzle extra chili oil on top when serving.
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