Asian Noodle Salad {Nut Free}
This nut and soy free asian noodle salad recipe with sesame ginger garlic dressing is loaded with authentic flavors. Not only is this recipe easy to make, but it is also hands down the best noodle salad recipe you will ever try!
We all have that dish that we can throw together, and we know it will please a crowd, a hungry spouse or make for a great grab and go lunch on those manic Mondays we all seem to have. This delicious Asian noodle salad dish can help you in all those scenarios and more!
SERIOUSLY! It is that good!
This dish can be served cold or at room temperature, so don’t fret about needing to take this meal in a thermos to keep hot or worry about needing to reheat it in that nasty workplace microwave that no one ever seems to clean!
Just pop the lid to your container and dive right in.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST INGREDIENTS FOR YOUR NOODLE SALAD
You can’t mess this salad up- honestly customize everything to your liking!
Noodles can be of your own choosing! This could be what you have on hand in your pantry, such as thin spaghetti noodles (my mom’s fav), or even soba noodles if you want this dish to be gluten free!
- My dad loves flat long noodles like pappardelle noodles, he says he likes how all the added sauces coat a wider surface! More flavor per square inch! If you love noodles and Asian flavor, check out my Chicken Pad Thai.
- Vegetables add a nice crunch to contrast the soft chewy noodles. You can use broccoli, shredded carrots, red bell peppers or some shelled edamame. In this recipe I will also be adding in some thinly sliced cucumber for freshness and extra crunch. If crunchy and fresh salads are your jam- check out my dads Broccoli Salad.
- Sesame oil is a key flavor component to this dish!
- Soy sauce can be used in this recipe to add a nice depth of umami flavor and tang. If you would like to use coconut aminos to keep your dish soy free, this is a great choice for an alternative.
- Ginger is another ingredient that simply needs its own moment in the spotlight! You can use fresh grated ginger or minced ginger in order for it to evenly coat and marry together the other ingredients just perfectly. Need minced ginger- you could quickly throw it in a food processor.
Tips for Making Your Noodle Salad the Authentic Way
Here are a few pointers to use while making this noodle salad as close to restaurant quality as possible!
- Use fresh ingredients if you can, such as freshly grated ginger and fresh veggies. But remember, frozen veggies like edamame from Trader Joe’s and frozen veggie mixes work just as well in a pinch. Just make sure to prepare them according to the bag instructions and allow to cool a bit before tossing into your noodles.
- Make sure to thinly slice your green onions if using them as well as finely slicing your cucumber, carrots and red bell peppers. This allows for no big chunky bites, we want all the ingredients to meld nicely!
- Don’t be shy to add a little red pepper flakes for a little added heat! We love spicing up a dish or two during the week, keeping things fresh and fun is always a good idea.
- Do not overcook your noodles, especially if you are using soba noodles. Overcooking soba noodles can lead to them breaking apart due to the fact they are already so soft. Here is a great article about Everything There is to Know About Soba Noodles for more helpful info.
Ingredients Needed for Noodle Salad
Noodle Salad
- long spaghetti pasta , or soba noodles, or gluten free pasta, chickpea pasta – you can make it the way you prefer! My dad loves wider noodles like pappardelle, my mom likes thin ones like angel hair. Customize it to your liking
- large cucumber thinly sliced- (you can also use broccoli slaw)
- grated carrots
- fresh ginger minced
- medium cloves of garlic minced or jarred minced garlic
- cilantro
Sesame Ginger Garlic Dressing
- sesame oil
- rice vinegar
- honey – you can also use 1 tbsp of granular sugar
- tahini – not into tahini? try peanut butter (not nut free)
- coconut aminos to make it soy free (or soy sauce)
- Sriracha (omit if you like less spicy or add more if you love heat!)
HOW TO PREPARE YOUR ASIAN NOODLE SALAD
Cook your noodles based on the instructions provided on the noodle bag. If you are using soba noodles, make sure to not overcook your noodles to avoid breakage.
Once the noodles are done, rinse with cold water (a little trick my dad uses for the best noodle results, so they don’t stick to one another).
Make sure to coat evenly to maximize flavor distribution.
Serve up in a bowl or on a plate and garnish with red pepper flakes, black sesame seeds or some thinly sliced green onions for an added fun flavor profile!
IDEAS FOR HOW TO SERVE YOUR ASIAN NOODLE SALAD
You can easily devour this Asian noodle salad straight from the bowl you prepped it in, or you could serve it up with a protein of your choice!
My personal favorite pairing would be with Chinese Chicken and Green Beans!
Garnishing with toppings such as sesame seeds or mung bean sprouts is an optional way to make your dish look high quality and taste even more wonderful.
Serve this light noodle salad with or without the sauce or add the sauce over a tender piece of grilled chicken or oven baked pistachio salmon with a bed of this Asian noodle salad as the base of your meal.
HOW TO store THE LEFTOVER NOODLE
I will be surprised if you even have any left!
It’s THAT good!
If you do have some left though… Store this noodle salad in an airtight container in the fridge 1-2 days. As the sauce marinades your noodles, it will create an amazing flavor profile that will be even better as the days go by!
Don’t let the noodles sit for more than 2 days in order to avoid soggy noodles.
I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR CREATIONS! YOU CAN USE “TRIED IT” ON PINTEREST OR SHARE ON INSTAGRAM OR TIKTOK BY TAGGING #SHUANGYSEATS
Get the recipe:Asian Noodle Salad {Soy Free}
Ingredients
Noodle Salad
- 6-8 oz long spaghetti pasta , or soba noodle
- 1/2 large cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup grated carrots
- 1 inch fresh ginger minced
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 bunch cilantro*, ~1/4 cup chopped
Sesame Garlic Ginger Dressing
- 1/2 cup sesame oil
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp sriracha
Instructions
- Make the pasta according to the box directions to el-dente
- In a big bowl, combine the dressing ingredients
- Once the noodles are done, drain it and rinse with cold water – that’s my dad’s way to stop the pasta from cooking also prevent them from sticking to each other
- Combine dressing, noodles, cucumber, carrots, ginger garlic and cilantro
- Mix well & Sprinkle sesame seeds and green onion on top and enjoy!
The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.
