Asian Sesame Noodle Salad (Printable)

Vibrant cold noodles with sesame dressing, crisp veggies, and edamame for a fresh, flavorful meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Noodles

01 - 9 oz soba noodles or thin spaghetti

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium cucumber, julienned
03 - 2 medium carrots, julienned
04 - 1 cup (5.3 oz) cooked and cooled shelled edamame
05 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
06 - 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

→ Sesame Dressing

07 - 3 tbsp tahini or toasted sesame paste
08 - 2 tbsp soy sauce (tamari for gluten-free option)
09 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
10 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
11 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
12 - 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
13 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
14 - 2–3 tbsp water (to thin dressing as needed)

→ Optional Garnishes

15 - Fresh cilantro or mint leaves
16 - Crushed peanuts or cashews
17 - Lime wedges

# Steps:

01 - Prepare the noodles according to package directions. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together tahini, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, grated ginger, minced garlic, and 2 tablespoons water. Add more water until the dressing achieves a smooth, pourable consistency.
03 - Add the cooled noodles, julienned cucumber, carrots, and shelled edamame to the dressing. Toss gently to ensure even coating.
04 - Sprinkle the salad with sliced spring onions and toasted sesame seeds. Add optional garnishes as desired.
05 - Refrigerate the salad for at least 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 30 minutes but tastes like you spent all afternoon in the kitchen.
  • The sesame dressing is creamy and rich without any cream, so it works perfectly for dairy-free diets.
  • Cold noodles mean you can make this ahead and it actually gets better as it sits, which makes weeknight dinner planning feel less stressful.
02 -
  • If your dressing separates or looks broken, it's probably just the sesame oil and tahini being stubborn—whisk in a little more water and it'll come back together.
  • Don't skip the cooling step for the noodles; warm noodles will wilt the vegetables and make the dressing taste less fresh.
  • Taste the dressing before you toss everything together; this is your chance to adjust the saltiness, sweetness, or tanginess to match what you're hungry for.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes over medium heat—the difference between store-bought and fresh-toasted is night and day.
  • If you can't find good tahini, pure sesame paste will do the job just as well, and some people swear it's even better.
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