Chilled Sesame Soba Noodle Salad with Cucumber and Carrot
Light and refreshing cold soba noodles tossed with crunchy cucumber, sweet carrots, and a nutty sesame dressing. This japanese-inspired noodles (vegetarian) ready in about 15 minutes pairs soba noodles, medium, julienned cucumber, large, julienned carrot for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 8 oz soba noodles
- 1 medium, julienned cucumber
- 1 large, julienned carrot
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 minced garlic clove
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 thinly sliced green onions
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 8 oz soba noodles and cook for 5 minutes until just tender, stirring occasionally.
- Step 2: Drain noodles and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool completely. Drain well.
- Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tsp grated fresh ginger, and 1 minced garlic clove until smooth.
- Step 4: In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled soba noodles with 1 medium julienned cucumber and 1 large julienned carrot.
- Step 5: Pour the sesame dressing over the noodles and vegetables, tossing gently to coat evenly.
- Step 6: Sprinkle 1 tbsp sesame seeds and 2 thinly sliced green onions on top before serving chilled.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Chilled Sesame Soba Noodle Salad with Cucumber and Carrot take to make?
Total time is about 15 minutes (10 min prep + 5 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Chilled Sesame Soba Noodle Salad with Cucumber and Carrot?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep soba noodles from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Chilled Sesame Soba Noodle Salad with Cucumber and Carrot?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Chilled Sesame Soba Noodle Salad with Cucumber and Carrot for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is Chilled Sesame Soba Noodle Salad with Cucumber and Carrot vegetarian?
Yes — this recipe is tagged vegetarian based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
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