Asian Sesame Noodle Salad (Printable)

Vibrant Asian sesame noodles tossed with crisp vegetables and a flavorful peanut dressing, served chilled or fresh.

# What you need:

→ 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 - Additional cilantro and peanuts as desired

# Directions:

01 - Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water until chilled. 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, garlic, and optional sriracha. Add warm water gradually until the dressing reaches a pourable consistency.
03 - In a large bowl, combine the cooked noodles, shredded red cabbage, julienned carrots, sliced bell pepper, sliced spring onions, julienned cucumber, and fresh cilantro.
04 - Pour the peanut dressing over the noodle and vegetable mixture. Toss thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Transfer the salad to a serving platter or individual bowls. Top with toasted sesame seeds, additional cilantro, and chopped peanuts.
06 - Serve immediately for warm noodles, or refrigerate for 20 minutes for a chilled salad. The salad maintains quality for up to 2 days when refrigerated; add peanuts immediately before serving to preserve crunchiness.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than ordering delivery, and you control exactly how much peanut sauce coats each bite.
  • The combination of crisp vegetables and tender noodles keeps things interesting textually, so every forkful feels different.
  • Cold or room temperature, it's equally delicious, making it perfect for meal prep or bringing to a gathering.
02 -
  • If you assemble the salad more than a few hours ahead, keep the peanut dressing separate and add it just before serving, otherwise vegetables release moisture and noodles become mushy and oversaturated.
  • Always add the peanuts and sesame seeds immediately before eating, as they lose their crucial crunch within minutes once they contact the wet dressing.
03 -
  • Make the dressing while noodles cook so everything comes together smoothly without you standing around waiting for components to be ready.
  • If your peanut butter is very thick or natural, whisk it with a tablespoon of warm water before adding other dressing ingredients so it incorporates smoothly instead of clumping.
Go back