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Fresh Cold Sesame Noodle Salad Easy Recipe for Crisp Cucumber Lovers

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A quick and refreshing cold sesame noodle salad featuring crisp cucumber, nutty sesame dressing, and tender noodles. Perfect for warm weather meals and easy to customize.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces (225 grams) spaghetti or thin wheat noodles (Angel Hair preferred)
  • 3 tablespoons sesame paste (tahini or Chinese-style sesame paste)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium if preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon chili flakes or a dash of Sriracha (optional)
  • 1 large cucumber, thinly sliced or julienned (seedless if preferred)
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
  • A handful of fresh cilantro or mint leaves (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces (225 grams) of noodles and cook according to package instructions, usually 7–9 minutes for spaghetti, until al dente.
  2. Drain noodles in a colander and immediately rinse under cold running water to cool and stop cooking. Toss gently to separate strands.
  3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together sesame paste, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, toasted sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, and chili flakes if using until smooth. Add warm water if dressing is too thick.
  4. Thinly slice or julienne the cucumber and thinly slice the green onions on the bias. Optionally, sprinkle cucumber with salt and let sit 10 minutes, then pat dry to reduce wateriness.
  5. Add cooled noodles, cucumber, and green onions to the dressing bowl. Toss gently but thoroughly to coat noodles evenly.
  6. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and fresh herbs like cilantro or mint. Serve immediately or chill for 30 minutes to meld flavors. Optionally drizzle extra toasted sesame oil before serving.

Notes

Rinse noodles under cold water immediately after cooking to stop cooking and keep noodles firm. Whisk dressing well to avoid lumps; add warm water if too thick. Add toasted sesame oil last to preserve aroma. Adjust chili flakes to taste for spiciness. Can substitute maple syrup for honey for vegan version and tamari for gluten-free soy sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: cold sesame noodle salad, cucumber salad, sesame paste, easy noodle salad, summer salad, vegetarian, vegan option, gluten-free option

Find it online: https://goldensimmer.com/fresh-cold-sesame-noodle-salad-easy-recipe-for-crisp-cucumber-lovers/