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5.0 from 99 votes

Noodle Salad With Creamy Sesame Peanut Dressing

Recipe video above. A vegetable noodle salad with a dressing that's creamy, peanutty, with a hint of sesame, tang of lime and mild hit of chilli. GREAT work lunch idea - keeps for days, terrific served cold. Try adding shredded chicken! Also great side for Asian meals. Serves 3 as a meal, or 4 to 5 as a side.

Prep Time
15 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 3
Calories: 541 kcal
Course: Main Course , Salad
Cuisine: Asian , Thai

Ingredients

Dressing
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter , preferably smooth (Note 1)
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil , toasted (Note 2)
  • 1 tbsp canola oil (or other neutral oil)
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce (Note 3)
  • 2 tbsp Sweet Chilli sauce
  • 1 tbsp Sriracha (adjust spiciness to taste)
  • 2 tbsp lime juice (sub rice or cider vinegar)
  • 1 garlic clove , minced
  • 2 to 4 tbsp water , if needed
Salad
  • 350g / 12 oz fresh egg noodles (about 4 cups, packed)
  • 1.5 cups carrot , julienned (1 large or 2 small carrots)
  • 2 cups beansprouts
  • 1.5 cups green beans , halved
  • 1.5 cups red bell pepper/capsicum , finely sliced (1 large)
  • 3 green onion stems , finely sliced on the diagonal
  • 1 tbsp white sesame seeds (preferably toasted)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Prepare noodles according to packet directions (most just require soaking in hot water). Drain, rinse and set aside to cool.
  2. Dressing - Mix together Dressing ingredients, using water only if needed to loosen so it can be tossed through salad. If you reduce Sriracha, might need to add smidge more lime.
  3. Beans - Steam or boil green greens until just cooked, tender but still crisp. Drain under running water to cool.
  4. Toss - Place salad ingredients in a big bowl, toss with dressing. 
  5. Garnish with sesame seeds then serve at room temp. Keeps 4 days in the fridge.

Notes

  • Peanut Butter - commercial spread is what I use in this recipe ie sweetened. If you use natural peanut butter (ie pure peanuts, not added sugar etc), you'll need to add about 2 tsp sugar and 1/4 tsp salt into the dressing.
  • Toasted Sesame Oil is dark brown and has a more intense sesame flavour, Untoasted is yellow (not common in Australia).
  • Soy Sauce - all purpose or light soy. Don't use dark soy or kecap manis, flavour is too intense.
  • Noodles - I use thin hokkien noodles because I like the slippery, slightly chewy texture in this noodle salad, the type that is sold in the fridge section that just requires soaking in hot water. But any noodles work fine here - rice, egg, fresh, dried, even ramen (use 3 cakes, toss seasoning). Just prepare per packet.
  • Other Vegetable options - anything that won't go watery limp once dressed:
  • Avoid: lettuce, spinach, cucumber, tomato
  • Adapted from a Nigella Lawson recipe.
  • Serves 3 as a meal, or 4 to 5 as a side.
  • Shredded Cabbage (white, green, red)
  • Zucchini batons (yes, raw, it's great!)
  • Snow peas, thinly sliced raw broccoli, red onion, corn
  • Lightly blanched asparagus, snap peas, cauliflower

Nutrition Information

Serving 292g Calories 541cal (27%) Carbohydrates 67g (22%) Protein 17g (34%) Fat 24g (37%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Sodium 1237mg (52%) Potassium 725mg (21%) Fiber 9g (36%) Sugar 19g (38%) Vitamin A 9960IU (199%) Vitamin C 122.3mg (136%) Calcium 96mg (10%) Iron 5.3mg (29%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 3Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 541

% Daily Value*

Serving 292g
Calories 541cal 27%
Carbohydrates 67g 22%
Protein 17g 34%
Fat 24g 37%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Sodium 1237mg 52%
Potassium 725mg 15%
Fiber 9g 36%
Sugar 19g 38%
Vitamin A 9960IU 199%
Vitamin C 122.3mg 136%
Calcium 96mg 10%
Iron 5.3mg 29%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.