Soba Noodle Salad

This cold soba noodle salad is a perfect choice if you’re heading to a potluck or just want a healthy and filling lunch you can enjoy all week.

Soba noodles are Japanese noodles made from buckwheat flour, prized for their nuttiness and pleasant chew. This soba noodle salad recipe is tossed with crunchy, colorful vegetables and a super-flavorful Asian-inspired dressing. It’s served chilled so it’s a no fuss choice for any meal. It can easily become a main dish with a little extra tofu or chicken on top.

Ingredients for Soba Noodle Salad

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• Soy sauce: A classic flavor for Asian-inspired sauces and dressing, soy sauce brings a big hit of umami.
• Brown sugar: The caramel-like sweetness of brown sugar balances the soy sauce. If you’re out, maple syrup or honey can stand in. If you like you’re dressing less sweet, add less sugar.
• Rice vinegar: A sweet and salty dressing needs a hit of acidity to brighten everything up. Rice vinegar is mild, but apple cider vinegar could be used if you’re out of the rice variety.
• Orange juice: Squeezing a bit of citrus into this salad adds a welcome juicy-tart sweetness. Lemon or lime juice could also be used.
• Ginger: Fresh ginger has a warm, floral and mildly spicy taste that is more potent than its dried counterpart. Store fresh ginger root in the freezer. Peel and grate it as needed.
• Sesame oil: This richly-flavored, deep-brown oil is used more as a seasoning than an oil.
• Garlic: Minced, fresh garlic is an aromatic and piquant flavor-builder that pairs perfectly with ginger.
• Sriracha sauce: Up the heat with a smidge of peppery Sriracha sauce.
• Shelled edamame: Not only does edamame add texture and a pretty pop of bright green, but it’s also packed with protein.
• Soba noodles: The foundation of this salad, soba noodles are whole grain noodles that add a subtle nuttiness.
• Coleslaw mix: This is the simplest way to add nutritious, shredded veggies to a salad.
• Carrots: Super-crunchy and sweet carrots are shredded so they are a similar size to the coleslaw mix.
• Green onions: Thinly sliced scallions are an easy way to add onion flavor to a raw salad, without the pungency of regular onions.
• Sesame seeds: Tiny, crunchy, and full of flavor, sesame seeds are more than a garnish. They add texture to the dish and are nutritional powerhouses.

Directions

Step 1: Whisk up the dressing

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In a small bowl, whisk together all the dressing ingredients, starting with the soy sauce and ending with sriracha.

Step 2: Cook the edamame and soba noodles

Kim Turner-Smith for Taste Recipes

Follow the package directions to cook both the edamame and soba noodles. After the noodles are finished cooking, rinse them with cold water and drain well.

Step 3: Stir in the vegetables and toss with dressing

Kim Turner-Smith for Taste Recipes

When ready to eat, combine all the vegetables, noodles and edamame in a large bowl. Add the dressing and sesame seeds to the dish and toss well.

Kim Turner-Smith for Taste Recipes

Soba Noodle Salad Recipe Variations

• Try a different dressing: Use a peanut butter-based dressing as another classic pairing with soba noodles. This chicken satay recipe has a great sauce that could be tossed with the soba noodles. (This chicken would also be delicious served alongside this soba noodle salad.)
• Enjoy salad as a main dish: It is so easy to make this cool and crunchy noodle salad a main dish by adding extra protein. Try grilled salmon, pan-fried tofu, or poached chicken breast on top.
• Make it spicy: While this recipe has a bit of sriracha, crank up the heat for the hotheads in your life by doubling it or stirring in some minced fresh serrano peppers.

How to Store Soba Noodle Salad

If you are planning on eating soba noodle salad later that day, you can store in a covered container in the fridge.

Can you make soba noodle salad ahead of time?

Soba noodle salad can be enjoyed all week. Simply store it in the refrigerator for four to five days. To keep the veggies crunchy, separate the noodles and dressing and toss together as needed.

Soba Noodle Salad Tips

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How do I cook soba noodles perfectly?

Bring the water to a boil and stir in your soba noodles to separate them. You don’t need to salt the water. Set your timer and cook according to the package directions. Don’t overcook the dish or the noodles will be mushy. Promptly rinse in cold water to wash off the excess starch.

Are soba noodles gluten-free?

Traditionally soba noodles are made with buckwheat flour. They are gluten-free if made with 100% buckwheat flour. Read the package carefully for any additions of regular wheat flour, which isn’t gluten-free friendly. Buckwheat sounds like it is part of the wheat family, but it’s really a grain-like seed that’s a member of the rhubarb family.

What is the difference between soba noodles and udon noodles?

Soba noodles are made with buckwheat flour, yielding a cooked noodle that is nutty and a little grainy. Udon noodles are all flour, with a thick and chewy texture.