Cold Udon Salad with Spicy Sesame Dressing and Nori

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-26 · Updated 2026-04-26

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A refreshing cold udon noodle salad tossed in a spicy sesame dressing, garnished with crisp nori strips and fresh cucumber for a perfect light meal. This Japanese recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs udon noodles, cucumber, carrot for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 3, 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 10 min Serves 3 Japanese cuisine 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

8 oz dried udon noodles
1 medium, julienned cucumber
1 small, julienned carrot
2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp sriracha sauce
1 tsp honey
2 sheets, sliced into thin strips nori sheets
1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
2, thinly sliced green onions

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Instructions

Step 1: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook 8 oz dried udon noodles for 8-10 minutes until tender but still chewy. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and chill the noodles.
Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp sriracha sauce, and 1 tsp honey until well combined into a spicy sesame dressing.
Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chilled udon noodles with 1 medium julienned cucumber and 1 small julienned carrot.
Step 4: Pour the spicy sesame dressing over the noodle mixture and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
Step 5: Transfer the salad to serving plates and garnish with 2 sliced nori sheets, 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds, and 2 thinly sliced green onions for texture and umami aroma.