Soba Noodle Cold Salad (Printable)

Chilled soba noodles tossed with fresh vegetables and a creamy sesame-peanut dressing for a bright meal.

# What You'll 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

→ 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 freshly grated ginger
13 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
14 - 1 to 2 tbsp water, to thin

→ 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Boil soba noodles according to package directions, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and rinse with 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, toasted sesame oil, maple syrup or honey, grated ginger, and minced garlic. Gradually add water, one tablespoon at a time, until dressing is smooth and pourable.
03 - Add cooled soba noodles and all vegetables to the dressing. Toss thoroughly to ensure even coating.
04 - Divide salad among bowls. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds, chopped cilantro, optional chili slices, and serve lime wedges alongside.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes, which means you can actually make this on a weeknight without losing your mind.
  • The dressing is creamy, nutty, and has just enough tang to make your taste buds wake up and pay attention.
  • It tastes even better the next day, so meal prep suddenly feels like a victory rather than a chore.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cold water rinse on the noodles—that starchy coating is what makes them stick together and taste gluey, and it's easily avoidable.
  • The dressing gets thicker as the vegetables release water, so if you're making this ahead, you might need to add a splash more water before serving.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes if you have them raw—the difference in flavor is actually worth the extra step.
  • Keep your vegetables cold right up until assembly; even five minutes of sitting at room temperature changes their crispness in a way you'll notice.
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