Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
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Cold Sesame Noodle Salad
Cold sesame noodle salad is a delicious and easy Asian side dish recipe, perfect for potlucks, summer picnics, or a light meal on its own.
Mmm sesame noodles. There is just something so satisfying about a plate of Cold Sesame Noodle Salad. It’s kind of like my summer comfort food.
When Ryan and I go out for a quick sushi lunch, I always look forward to eating cold sesame noodle salad. We usually visit a local conveyor belt sushi place. We like it, especially with Kellan in tow, because we can sit down and start eating right away. No need to wait for a server. No need to wait for the kitchen to cook our food. Sit down. Grab. Eat. Pay. Go.
It’s a very convenient dining style when you’ve got a 21 month old.
Holy cow.
Is that right? 21 months?
When did he get to be 21 months?!
Ahhh time really does go fast when you’re an adult.
I hear it goes even faster after you turn 30.
Which I will be doing in October.
Holy cow.
Moving on…
Conveyor belt sushi can be a tricky game. You see the sushi chef put something on the belt that you really want and you wait. And you watch as it passes by each table hoping that the person right before you won’t snag it before you do.
And that has happened to me many times, and always with the cold sesame noodle salad.
But once I finally get some, I’m in heaven. It’s light, it’s refreshing, and so so flavorful.
Which dressing do you use for cold sesame noodle salad?
The dressing for this cold sesame noodle salad is quick and uses a few kitchen staples. You will need soy sauce, sesame oil, ground ginger, garlic, sesame seeds and rice vinegar. I usually find the rice vinegar in the Asian foods aisle of my grocery store or at my local Asian market. But if you cannot find any, distilled vinegar would work in a pinch.
And it’s not just me that loves it, Kellan loves it too.
And if a simple salad recipe like cold sesame noodles can please both an adult and a toddler? Well that, my friends, is what we call a win.
If you love the flavors of Asian salads, I know you’ll love these recipes too:
Asian Cabbage Salad with Ponzu Dressing
Cold Sesame Noodle Salad
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 13.75 ounce package whole grain thin spaghetti noodles
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar white vinegar will work as well
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon roasted sesame seeds
- 1 carrot grated
- 3 green onions diced
Instructions
- Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and run under cool water. Let drain again.
- While noodles are cooking whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, ginger, garlic and sesame seeds in a large bowl.
- Place cooled noodles into bowl. Add in grated carrots and diced green onion. Toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Have new recipes emailed to you.
Cheryl
August 14, 2022 at 10:01 amVery Good. Very easy. Not soupy like some noodle salads. Right amount of spice and dressing. I used thin spaghetti noodles and liked the texture. Next time will add shrimp! And something red. Added cilantro also.
Jena
July 19, 2022 at 5:20 pmI was looking for this recipe! I made it a long time ago–for a potluck–and loved it. I made it a lot. My kids, though, didn’t love it, so it fell out of the rotation. They’re 11 & 8 now, though, so I’m making it for the 4-H potluck tomorrow night. I’m kind of ridiculously excited.
And to Antone–there’s a GIANT difference developmentally every month as babies and toddlers grow. We parents (I can only deduce you are not one of our number–yet, at least) usually stop counting ages in months between 2 and 3 years. If you don’t want to do the math (21 months is NOT 2 years) that is not the parent’s problem; they have enough on their plate without having to cater to your trollish cringiness.
Antone
May 21, 2022 at 10:04 pmJust say your kid is 2 years old, it’s super cringe to say 21 months, you have 2 year old that’s what it is.
Why the long winded article? All those paragraphs, for a small recipe, do you get paid by the word? You and I both know no one’s going to read any of that lol what kind of person actually reads that. Any way please respond with some ‘kill theme with kindness” type of comment, but please explain why the novel about your life has to he part of the recipe.
Deseree
May 23, 2022 at 9:33 amFirst, thank you for the 5-star review! ;) I don’t get paid by the word but the ads that you find spaced throughout the writing on my blog do help me pay for upkeep/groceries/testing etc. And also, man, that 2 year old is now almost 11 so thanks for the reminder that I need to update this post!
Sarah Gunia
August 9, 2021 at 7:09 pmThanks for just giving the simple recipe, it leaves room for experimenting. There’s so many variations, this is just the base I needed! I just wanted to throw some stars your way
Deseree
August 10, 2021 at 9:34 amThank you Sarah! I really appreciate it :)
Donna Takash
July 14, 2021 at 1:20 pmI doubled the sauce and used udon noodles. I love this recipe!
Deseree
July 14, 2021 at 9:02 pmSo happy to hear that, Donna! Thank you!
Katie
May 12, 2021 at 4:43 amHi! Excited to make this, but have a question about the noodles. You list thin spaghetti in the ingredients, but your picture is of a flat noodle. What type of noodle is pictured? (I prefer the flat noodle)
Deseree
May 14, 2021 at 2:32 pmHi! sorry about the delayed response! You’re right, it does look like I used flat pasta so I went on a hunt at the grocery store today to see what it might have been (since this recipe is pretty old I couldn’t remember) and I’m thinking whole wheat linguine. PS:I bought some so I can remake this recipe. Thank you for the reminder!
Nami | Just One Cookbook
August 3, 2013 at 12:30 amYes that’s true about age, and after I turned 31, I don’t remember how old I am (seriously!). And the physically it goes downhill after 35… you don’t want to know! ;) I love this sesame noodle salad!
Marnia
August 2, 2013 at 3:04 pmI love these! I also add some red pepper flakes for a little kick.
Nita
July 4, 2014 at 1:19 pmOr add chili oil. Love it!
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch
August 2, 2013 at 6:20 amGreat for summer!!! Love this!
Jackie {Domestic Fits}
August 1, 2013 at 9:07 amTotally perfect for summer, love it.
Ashley - Baker by Nature
July 31, 2013 at 10:55 amThis noodle salad is just perfect for Summer eats! I love it!
cassie
July 31, 2013 at 8:16 amTime just flies by, doesn’t it? It’s crazy!
I love these noodles. My favorite flavors, right here!