What sauce is best for Asian cold noodle salad?

There are lots of different cold noodle recipes out there, but I prefer to make mine with a creamy peanut butter dressing. It has a tangy-sweet-spicy-umami flavor like your favorite Thai peanut sauce, and it's thick enough to coat every noodle. The best part is that it only requires a handful of pantry staples, so it's easy to make in a pinch!

What kind of noodles are best for cold peanut noodle salad?

I prefer to use chow mein noodles, which have a square shape that adds a nice texture alongside the julienned carrots and cucumber strips. Really, though, you can use any type of noodle you'd like, even regular dried spaghetti noodles, buckwheat noodles, or even gluten-free brown rice noodles. Just be sure to choose noodles that are about the same thickness as spaghetti noodles and that are suitable for serving cold.

Do you have to rinse the noodles for cold noodle salad?

Yes, all cold pasta salads require you to rinse the hot noodles under cold water, and for good reason. This process cools down the pasta quickly, so it won't overcook and become gummy in your dish. It also rinses off the starches from the outside of the noodles, so they're less likely to stick together. It's a key step in making any type of pasta salad, so don't skip it.

Asian Cold Noodle Salad

Name: Asian Cold Noodle Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 6 ounces dried chow mein noodles (about 4-5 cups dry); 1/2 cup cucumber, cut into thin 2 inch strips; 1/2 cup carrots. cut into thin 2 inch strips; 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped; 2 tablespoons peanuts, coarsely chopped (plus more for serving); 2 tablespoons peanut butter; 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce; 2 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar; 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 1 tablespoon honey (or brown sugar); 2 teaspoons lime juice; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper powder (optional)

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Nothing screams summer more than a crispy, crunchy, Asian cold noodle salad, infused with cilantro and a peanut and lime dressing — so refreshing!

Inspired by my favorite Asian Cold Noodle Salad from the store, this homemade version has the same fresh flavors and crunchy textures that make it so light and refreshing. Tender chow mein noodles, fresh vegetables, chopped peanuts, and cilantro are tossed in a tangy peanut dressing that brings every bite to life. You'll want to keep a batch in the fridge for a delicious side dish or light dinner all summer long!

Flavorful, crispy, and crunchy, this Asian Cold Noodle Salad is made with noodles, vegetables, peanuts, and cilantro tossed in a homemade peanut dressing. | aheadofthyme.com

The gorgeous, vibrant colours make this salad such a beautiful addition to our dinner table. Plus, it tastes as good as it looks! But the absolute best part about this salad is that it tastes just as good the next day — if not better. All it needs is a quick re-toss because some of the dressing may have sunk to the bottom of the dish. So what that basically means is that you can take this colourful dish to work the next day. Not having to think about what I am going to prepare for lunch is a major win.

Why You'll Love This Asian Cold Noodle Salad

Seriously refreshing. The cold noodles and crunchy veggies will fill you up without warming you up, but it's the creamy peanut sauce that really brings the dish together. It's savory, tangy, nutty, and slightly sweet all at the same time. Sometimes, it's the only thing I want to eat on a hot summer day!
Perfect for entertaining. Like your favorite pasta salads, this Asian cold noodle salad is a great option for serving at picnics and potlucks! You don't have to worry about keeping it warm, and it will help cool you down from the summer heat.
Great for meal prep. The cold noodles taste even better the next day after the creamy peanut sauce infuses into the noodles. Since the veggies will stay slightly crisp for a couple of days in the fridge, just can just give it a stir and serve!

Ingredient Notes

To make this easy Asian Cold Noodle Salad , you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

chow mein noodles - if you don't have chow mein noodles available at your local grocery store, don't worry. You can also use ramen noodles, spaghetti noodles, soba noodles, and more.
veggies - slice up the cucumber and carrot into 2-inch thin strips.
cilantro
peanuts - you could also substitute with cashews or other nuts.
peanut dressing - an easy dressing made homemade using peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey (or brown sugar if you want to keep the recipe vegan), lime juice, and garlic. You can also add in some red pepper powder for a spicy kick.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, medium cooking pot, blender, and large serving bowl or mixing bowl.

How to Make Asian Cold Noodle Salad

Cook the noodles. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and add the dry noodles. If the noodles you have used are not pre-cut into short pieces, use your hands to break them into smaller pieces, about 2-3 inches long (You could also cut them after cooking). Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Drain and rinse the noodles with cold water.

Make dressing. Meanwhile, make the dressing by adding the peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, lime juice, honey, garlic, and red pepper powder (if using) in a blender. Blend until smooth.