Chill Out, Sesame!
Cold Noodles Tossed with Crunchy Vegetables and a Creamy Sesame-Soy Dressing
30 minutes
Serves 4
DinnerChineseVegetarian
Herb's take
Inspired by the vibrant noodle salads of East Asia, this dish turns humble pasta into a refreshing, flavor-packed dinner. You’ll learn the secret to silky cold noodles and how to balance a nutty sesame dressing, no stove lingering required.
Ingredients
Yield
4
Instructions
- 01Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until just al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cool.
- 02While the pasta cooks, prep all your vegetables: julienne the cucumber, shred the carrots, slice the bell pepper, and chop the scallions and cilantro.
- 03In a medium bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, garlic, ginger, sriracha, lime juice, and cold water until smooth and creamy.
- 04In a large mixing bowl, toss together the cooled pasta, prepared vegetables, and most of the cilantro and scallions, reserving a little of each for garnish.
- 05Pour the sesame dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly until everything is evenly coated.
- 06Transfer to a platter or individual bowls. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and the reserved cilantro and scallions before serving.
- 07Serve immediately, or chill for up to 2 hours for maximum refreshment. Taste and season with salt or additional soy sauce if desired.
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