Cold Lemon-Ginger Noodle Salad with Sesame Dressing

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-07 · Updated 2026-06-07

A refreshing cold noodle salad tossed with a zesty lemon-ginger sesame dressing and crunchy vegetables, ideal for a light picnic meal. This Asian Fusion-inspired salad recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 20 minutes, pairs rice noodles, carrot, cucumber into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 3, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. 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

• 6 oz rice noodles
• 1 medium, julienned carrot
• 1/2 medium, julienned cucumber
• 1/2 medium, thinly sliced red bell pepper
• 2 stalks, thinly sliced green onions
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
• 1 tbsp honey
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 6 oz rice noodles and cook according to package instructions (about 5 minutes) until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water until noodles are cool, then drain well.
2. Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 medium julienned carrot, 1/2 medium julienned cucumber, 1/2 thinly sliced red bell pepper, 2 thinly sliced green onions, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp grated fresh ginger, 1 tbsp honey, 2 tsp sesame oil, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, and 1 tbsp vegetable oil until smooth and emulsified.
4. Step 4: Add the cooled noodles to the vegetables, pour the dressing over, and toss gently to combine everything evenly. Sprinkle 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds on top before serving chilled or at room temperature.