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Fresh Cold Sesame Noodle Salad

Fresh Cold Sesame Noodle Salad - featured image
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A quick and easy cold noodle salad with crunchy vegetables and a creamy, tangy sesame dressing, perfect for a refreshing lunch or meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces thin wheat noodles (spaghetti or Chinese egg noodles; gluten-free rice noodles work well)
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1 cup thinly sliced cucumber
  • 1 cup julienned red bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced red cabbage
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari (for gluten-free option)
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tablespoon smooth tahini (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
  • Fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
  • Crushed peanuts or cashews (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add noodles and cook according to package instructions, usually 5-7 minutes until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
  2. Drain noodles and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool them. Drain well and set aside.
  3. Wash and dry all vegetables. Shred carrots and thinly slice cucumber, bell pepper, cabbage, and green onions. Place all veggies in a large mixing bowl.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, grated ginger, minced garlic, and tahini (if using) until smooth and slightly emulsified.
  5. Add cooled noodles to the bowl with vegetables. Pour dressing over and toss gently but thoroughly to coat all ingredients.
  6. If desired, toss in crushed nuts for extra crunch.
  7. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and fresh cilantro leaves on top.
  8. Serve immediately or chill for 15-30 minutes to meld flavors.

Notes

Rinsing noodles in cold water is essential to prevent clumping. Toast sesame seeds for deeper flavor. Adjust sweetness or acidity of dressing to taste. For vegan version, use maple syrup instead of honey and tamari instead of soy sauce. Store dressing separately if prepping ahead to keep salad crisp.

Nutrition

Keywords: cold noodle salad, sesame noodle salad, crunchy vegetable salad, easy lunch recipe, meal prep, gluten-free option, vegan option

Find it online: https://islatable.com/fresh-cold-sesame-noodle-salad-recipe-easy-crunchy-veggie-lunch-idea/