Spicy Sesame Noodle Salad (Printable)

Refreshing chilled noodles with bold sesame-soy dressing, cucumbers, and fresh herbs. A quick 25-minute Asian-inspired meal.

# What You 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:

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.
03 - Add the cooled noodles to the bowl with the dressing. Toss well to coat evenly.
04 - Add cucumber, spring onions, and half the sesame seeds, cilantro, and peanuts if using. Toss gently to combine.
05 - Transfer to a serving platter or individual bowls. Sprinkle with remaining sesame seeds, cilantro, and peanuts. Serve immediately or chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under half an hour, with no oven required and barely any cleanup.
  • The dressing is punchy, nutty, and just spicy enough to keep things interesting without overwhelming.
  • You can eat it cold straight from the fridge the next day and it tastes even better.
  • The crunch from cucumbers and peanuts makes every bite feel alive and textured.
02 -
  • Rinse the noodles thoroughly under cold water or they will keep cooking and turn mushy, ruining the texture.
  • Taste the dressing before tossing it with the noodles and adjust the chili oil, soy, or vinegar to your preference.
  • If the salad sits for more than an hour, the noodles may absorb the dressing, so have a little extra sesame oil and soy sauce ready to refresh it.
03 -
  • Grate the garlic and ginger with a microplane for the smoothest, most evenly distributed flavor in the dressing.
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for a few minutes until golden and fragrant, it makes a noticeable difference.
  • If you love heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a few slices of fresh red chili to the dressing for an extra layer of spice.
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