Description
A vibrant and refreshing Asian Noodle Salad combining tender rice noodles with crunchy fresh vegetables, fresh herbs, and a tangy, savory dressing. Perfect for quick meals, meal prep, or as an impressive side dish, this recipe delivers a delightful balance of textures and bold flavors in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Noodles
- 200g rice noodles
Vegetables
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
- 3 green onions, chopped
Herbs & Garnishes
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup crushed peanuts
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce (natural)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon honey (natural)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Instructions
- Prep the noodles: Soak or boil the rice noodles according to package directions until just tender. Rinse under cold water to stop cooking and prevent them from sticking.
- Chop the veggies: While the noodles cook, thinly slice the red bell peppers, shred the carrots, slice the cucumber, and chop the green onions to ensure an even, balanced texture in every bite.
- Make the dressing: Whisk together soy sauce (natural), apple cider vinegar, sesame oil, honey (natural), and minced garlic until smooth and well combined to create a flavorful dressing.
- Toss everything together: In a large bowl, combine the noodles, chopped vegetables, and fresh cilantro. Pour the dressing over and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with crushed peanuts and toasted sesame seeds for a perfect finishing crunch and aroma before serving immediately or chilling for later.
Notes
- Do not overcook noodles to maintain their al dente texture.
- Prep vegetables uniformly for balanced flavor and crunch in every bite.
- Toast sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat to bring out their nuttiness.
- Adjust the dressing ingredients to balance sweet, sour, and salty flavors to your preference.
- Serve the salad chilled or at room temperature for best results.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No cooking required after boiling noodles
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Asian noodle salad, rice noodle salad, fresh noodle salad, healthy salad, quick lunch, vegan salad, gluten free salad
