Spicy Sesame Noodle Salad (Print Version)

Chilled noodles in bold sesame-soy-chili dressing with cucumber, herbs, and toasted sesame seeds. Refreshing and ready in 25 minutes.

# 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 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, grated garlic, and grated ginger until smooth and well combined.
03 - Add the cooled noodles to the bowl with the dressing. Toss well to ensure all noodles are evenly coated.
04 - Add cucumber slices, spring onions, and half the sesame seeds, cilantro, and peanuts if using. Toss gently to combine all ingredients.
05 - Transfer the salad to a serving platter or individual bowls. Sprinkle the remaining sesame seeds, cilantro, and peanuts over the top. Serve immediately or chilled as preferred.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It tastes like takeout but comes together faster than the delivery driver could arrive.
  • You can eat it cold straight from the fridge the next day and it somehow tastes even better.
  • The dressing clings to every strand without being heavy or greasy.
  • It works as a side dish or a full meal depending on how hungry you are.
02 -
  • Rinse the noodles thoroughly or they'll clump together into a sticky brick in the fridge.
  • If the dressing seems too thick, whisk in a teaspoon of water at a time until it loosens up.
  • Don't skip the sugar, it balances the heat and keeps the flavors from tasting harsh.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes, they'll smell nutty and taste twice as good.
  • Use kitchen scissors to cut the spring onions directly into the bowl, it's faster and keeps your cutting board clean.
  • If you're sensitive to spice, replace half the chili oil with more sesame oil and add a pinch of red pepper flakes for control.
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