Soba Noodle Cold Salad (Print)

Cold soba noodles tossed with fresh veggies and a creamy sesame-peanut dressing for a light, tasty dish.

# What You Need:

→ Noodles

01 - 9 oz soba noodles

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
03 - 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
05 - 2 spring onions, finely sliced
06 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage (50 g)

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tbsp smooth peanut butter or tahini
08 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
09 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
10 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
11 - 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
12 - 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
13 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
14 - 1 to 2 tbsp water, to thin dressing

→ Garnishes

15 - 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
16 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
17 - 1 small red chili, thinly sliced (optional)
18 - Lime wedges, for serving

# Steps:

01 - Boil soba noodles following package directions, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking and remove starch. Set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together peanut butter or tahini, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, maple syrup or honey, grated ginger, and minced garlic. Gradually whisk in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until smooth and pourable.
03 - Add cooled noodles, julienned carrot, sliced cucumber, bell pepper, spring onions, and shredded red cabbage to the dressing. Toss thoroughly to ensure even coating.
04 - Divide the salad into serving bowls. Top with toasted sesame seeds, fresh cilantro, and sliced red chili if desired. Accompany with lime wedges.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • It's a complete meal that comes together in under 30 minutes, no fancy techniques required.
  • The creamy-nutty dressing clings to every strand of noodle in the most satisfying way.
  • It tastes even better the next day once the flavors have had time to get cozy with each other.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the cooked noodles; it's the difference between a silky salad and a gummy one.
  • Make the dressing first and taste it before adding the noodles—this is your chance to adjust the balance of salt, sweetness, and tang without starting over.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan just before serving—the heat releases their aroma and makes them taste twice as good.
  • If you're making this ahead, keep the dressing separate from the noodles and vegetables until just before serving, then toss everything together for the crispest result.
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