Description
Sesame noodle salad offers a refreshing Asian-inspired blend of flavors and textures. Crisp vegetables, tender noodles, and nutty sesame sauce create a delightful meal you can enjoy warm or chilled.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (226 g) spaghetti, uncooked
- 4 oz (113 g) red cabbage, finely shredded
- 4 oz (113 g) carrots, finely shredded
- 5 tbsps (75 mL) low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 tbsps (45 g) creamy peanut butter
- 2 tbsps (30 mL) rice vinegar
- 2 tbsps (30 mL) sesame oil
- 2 tsps (10 g) grated fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 tsp (4 g) white sugar
- 2 stalks green onions, finely sliced
- ¼ cup (30 g) roasted peanuts, chopped
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Submerge spaghetti in rapidly boiling water, adhering to package guidelines. Omit salt, as the peanut sauce will deliver robust seasoning. Drain thoroughly and allow to cool for 10 minutes, ensuring optimal sauce absorption.
- Sauce Creation: Blend soy sauce, peanut butter, rice vinegar, ginger, sugar, and minced garlic in a microwave-safe vessel. Zap on high for one minute to soften ingredients and facilitate seamless integration. Whisk vigorously until achieving a velvety consistency, then introduce sesame oil for aromatic complexity.
- Salad Assembly: In a capacious mixing bowl, unite cooled pasta, crisp cabbage shreds, slender carrot matchsticks, and vibrant peanut sauce. Toss with precision, ensuring each strand is luxuriously coated. Adjust sauce viscosity by incrementally adding water to create a silky, clinging texture that embraces the noodles.
- Finishing Touches: Gently incorporate verdant green onions moments before serving. Scatter roasted peanuts generously to introduce a satisfying crunch and nutty undertone. This versatile dish welcomes consumption at various temperatures – warm, chilled, or room temperature.
Notes
- Optimize Pasta Cooling: Let noodles rest exactly 10 minutes to prevent overcooking and maintain ideal texture for sauce absorption.
- Sauce Softening Technique: Microwave peanut butter briefly to create smoother, more evenly distributed sauce that blends seamlessly with other ingredients.
- Sauce Consistency Control: Add water incrementally if sauce seems too thick, ensuring a silky, clingy coating that perfectly embraces the noodles.
- Garnish Timing Tip: Sprinkle green onions and peanuts just before serving to preserve maximum crunch and fresh flavor burst.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg