Easy Cold Soba Noodles Salad Recipe (2024)

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ThisSoba Noodles Salad is super easy & quick recipe to make. When tossed in Home-made Asian Salad Dressing, it is so delectable and delightful in taste. Addition of crispy vegetables make this salad very desirable. VIDEO ATTACHED.

Easy Cold Soba Noodles Salad Recipe (1)

Easy Cold Soba Noodles Salad Recipe with Asian Dressing – Vegan

Actually you can enjoy this salad cold or at the room temperature. Since this is an easy and quick recipe to make, it is perfect for quick meals, easy lunches, picnic lunches, or even work lunches.

I think that is the beauty of the cold recipes. You do not have to heat it. And there is probably only 1 or 2 ingredient that needs cooking. That too can be done beforehand. Therefore when the time comes, you just add everything to the bowl. Toss, Toss & Toss.

Normally I love making my Salad Dressings at home. And this ASIAN SALAD DRESSING is stupendously easy. It is flavored with ginger and sweetened with honey. Just add all the ingredients and shake shake shake. Done.

Another beautiful thing about the salads is their CRUNCH & CRISPINESS because of the addition of raw uncooked salad vegetables. And this salad is full of the beautiful textures and flavors. I love adding nuts to my salads and hence I added peanuts and cashews to it. YUM YUM YUM!!

Have you checked our other VEGETARIAN ASIAN RECIPES? Check these outChopped Asian Salad, Teriyaki Noodles, Air Fryer Tofu in Asian Sauce, General Tso’s Meatballs, Garlic Noodles, Dan Dan Noodles and many more.

Easy Cold Soba Noodles Salad Recipe (2)

What are SOBA NOODLES?

[Resource – here]

Soba is a thin Japanese Noodle made with buckwheat (not wheat). These noodles are either served chilled with a dipping sauce or hot in a noodle soup.

Soba can nutritionally complement other grains like white rice and wheat flour. Thiamine, missing from white rice, is present in soba. Soba contains all nine essential amino acids including lysine, which is lacking in wheat flour.

It is part of the traditional Japanese diet and can be served in a variety of dishes.

Are Soba Noodles Gluten-free?

These noodles come in variation. There is a variety that is hand-made with only buckwheat. And then there is another variety that is made with a combination of buckwheat and whole wheat.

Therefore read the ingredients at the back of the packet when making a purchase. Even if it says contains buckwheat, it might refer at the bottom of the ingredients “may contain wheat”.

How to purchase Soba Noodles?

Although there are tons of recipes that can tell you how to make these at home, I still prefer to buy these from the market.

I have been purchasing these from my local grocery store – Giant Eagle. Whole foods carry it. Your local Asian Store will carry it too. Have not seen these at Walmart or Target. And then you can buy Soba Noodles from AMAZON.

How to Cook Soba Noodles?

Soba Noodles are very starchy. Since they become lumpy after 30 minutes of cooking, you are supposed to cook them right before eating.

One can cook these either in INSTANT POT or GAS TOP. I cooked these in my 6 quart Instant Pot.

Wash the hot cooked Soba Noodles under cold running water before adding to the salad. Once these are tossed in dressing, they stay fine.

These noodles can be used in both cold as well as hot recipes.

Easy Cold Soba Noodles Salad Recipe (3)

Ingredients

Soba Noodles

Salad Add Ons – Shredded or thinly sliced vegetables like carrots, red cabbage, broccoli, cucumbers, cilantro, green onions (scallions),

ToppingsRoasted Cashews and Roasted Peanuts

Asian Salad Dressing IngredientsDistilled Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Honey, Sesame Oil, Ginger, Sesame Seeds, Lime Juice

Kitchen Gadgets

Instant Pot or Large Sauce Pan

Inner Pot

Kitchen Colander

Mixing Bowl

Small Whisk

Chopping board and Knife

Measuring Cups & Spoon

Salad Tongs

Small Dressing Jar

Easy Cold Soba Noodles Salad Recipe (4)

Asian Salad Dressing

There are so many recipes online for Asian Salad Dressing. Some use Peanut butter like the one I have used in my Dan Dan Noodles Recipe and some are simple like this one. You can use any store bought dressing too. But I like making my own SALAD DRESSINGS at home.

There is no cooking involved. Just mix all the ingredients in a small jar (with lid) and shake vigorously till combined. That’s it.

What else can I use instead of Soba Noodles?

Although the recipe calls for Soba Noodles, but you can use any kind of noodles for this recipe. Even Spaghetti will work so well.

Can I use regular sugar in place of Honey?

Yes absolutely you can. Replace with the same amount of sugar. You can use brown sugar. You can also use agave nectar or a sweetener of your choice.

What can I use to replace Soy Sauce?

You can substitute soy sauce with either Tamari Sauce or Amino Liquids.

What kind of Vinegar is used in the Asian Salad Dressing?

Rice Vinegar is the best choice for this Salad Dressing. Since it is impossible to keep all the ingredients handy, you can easily use DISTILLED VINEGAR for the recipe.

Can I skip the Sesame seed Oil in the recipe?

Yes you can. Sesame seed oil adds nice sheen to the dressing. But you can skip it.

Can I make this Salad ahead of time?

Yes you can. Put the whole salad together and mix it well. Make sure to add enough Salad Dressing to drench it all. Then you can refrigerate it. It will stay good for 1-2 days.

Can I cook the noodles ahead of time for this recipe?

I wouldn’t advise that. These noodles become very lumpy after a while even after a lot of washing under the cold water. The best way is to put the whole salad together and refrigerate.

What kind of vegetables to use?

For Asian Salads, cucumbers, carrots, cabbage, scallions and broccoli can be used. I take a shortcut and use pre-made salad bags from the grocery store. Just empty the whole bag in the bowl and done. No cutting needed. But you can use the vegetables of your choice and shred or thinly slice them to use in the salad.

Easy Cold Soba Noodles Salad Recipe (5)

How to make Cold Soba Noodles Salad?

It is a fairly simple recipe. WATCH THE VIDEO ATTACHED for more clarity.

Cook the SOBA NOODLES in Instant Pot or Gas Top in a Sauce Pan

I love using my INSTANT POT for all my meal prep. Therefore I cooked my Soba Noodles in Instant Pot . Place the noodles in IP inner pot in a fanned out or criss cross pattern. Add 5-6 cups of water to submerge the noodles in the water. Press the noodles down. Pressure cook on HIGH for 2 minutes and do a QPR.

The back of my soba noodles packet said to cook for 6 minutes on gas top. Normally it is half the time in IP and then QPR. I did 2 minutes to get “al-dente” texture for salad.

After the QPR, open the lid. Take the inner pot to the sink and wash the noodles under the running cold water. Work on the noodles with Salad Tongs while washing. Keep separating them with tongs to wash away the maximum amount of starch from it.

Now transfer in large colander and wash more as needed. Make sure to get rid of as much starch as possible.

After that let them cool down completely to the room temperature.

Cook Soba Noodles on GAS TOP

Follow the instructions as the back of the package to these Soba Noodles in a Large Sauce Pan. After cooking, wash these under the cold running water till all the starch is washed off.

Prepare the Vegetables

Meanwhile the noodles are cooking, work on your vegetables. If you are not using the packaged salad bag, then work on the vegetables. Shred them with a vegetable shredder or cut them thin to match the thickness of the noodles. Slice the cucumbers thin like matchsticks, about 3 inches long. Chop the scallions with white an green both. Finely chop the cilantro. Mix them all and set aside.

Prepare the ASIAN SALAD DRESSING

Take a small mason jar and add Distilled Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Honey, Sesame Oil, Ginger, Sesame Seeds, and Lime Juice to it. Close the lid. Shake shake Shake till all the ingredients incorporate well. Dressing is ready.

MIX IT ALL

Take a large Mixing Bowl. Add cold (room temperature) noodles, chopped up vegetables, and roasted cashews + Roasted Peanuts. Pour the Asian salad dressing generously. Toss Toss Toss with Salad Tongs till dressing covers the noodles. You can serve these immediately or refrigerate.

Easy Cold Soba Noodles Salad Recipe (6)

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Recipe Video

How to make Soba Noodles Salad?

Easy Cold Soba Noodles Salad Recipe (7)

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Cold Soba Noodles Salad Recipe

This cold noodles salad is perfect for summers. Super easy to make. Full of umami. Home made Asian Salad Dressing is so good. Great for easy quick lunches, get togethers and work lunch.

Course Main Course, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Asian

Keyword Asian Salad Dressing, Noodles Salad, Soba Noodles Salad, Soba Nooodles

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6 Servings

Calories 85kcal

Author simplyvegetarian777

Equipment

  • Measuring Spoons, Measuring Cups, Stirring Spoon,

  • Chopping board and knife

  • Instant Pot 6 quart or Mealthy Multipot

  • Kitchen Colander

  • Inner Pot

  • mixing bowl

  • Salad Tongs

  • Large Sauce Pan

Ingredients

  • 1 packet or 14 ounce Soba Noodles I used Simply Asia Brand
  • 12 ounce or 2 cups of Asian Salad Bag that has shredded red cabbage, carrots, broccoli, etc. You may thickly shred the vegetables like cabbage, carrots, broccoli, etc. separately for the salad as well. See Notes.
  • 1 medium Cucumber thinly sliced or julienned
  • 5 stocks Green Scallions or Green Onions White & Green part both, chopped thin
  • 1/4 cup Cilantro leaves with stem chopped fine
  • 2 tbsp Roasted Peanuts
  • 2 tbsp Roasted Cashews
  • 5-6 cups Water

Asian Salad Dressing

Instructions

Always read the whole recipe first then start prepping. Gather the ingredients. ALWAYS READ THE NOTES for tips, storage, substitutes and more options. WATCH THE VIDEO.

    Cook the SOBA NOODLES in Instant Pot

    • I love using my INSTANT POT for all my meal prep. Therefore I cooked my Soba Noodles in Instant Pot . Place the noodles in IP inner pot in a fanned out or criss cross pattern. Add 5-6 cups of water to submerge the noodles in the water. Press the noodles down. Pressure cook on HIGH for 2 minutes and do a QPR.

    • The back of my soba noodles packet said to cook for 6 minutes on gas top. Normally it is half the time in IP and then QPR. I did 2 minutes to get "al-dente" texture for salad.

    • After the QPR, open the lid. Take the inner pot to the sink and wash the noodles under the running cold water. Work on the noodles with Salad Tongs while washing. Keep separating them with tongs to wash away the maximum amount of starch from it.

    • Now transfer in large colander and wash more as needed. Make sure to get rid of as much starch as possible.After that let them cool down completely to the room temperature.

    Cook Soba Noodles on GAS TOP option

    • Follow the instructions as the back of the package to these Soba Noodles in a Large Sauce Pan. After cooking, wash these under the cold running water till all the starch is washed off.

    Prepare the Vegetables

    • Meanwhile the noodles are cooking, work on your vegetables. If you are not using the packaged salad bag, then work on the vegetables. Shred them with a vegetable shredder or cut them thin to match the thickness of the noodles. Slice the cucumbers thin like matchsticks, about 3 inches long. Chop the scallions with white an green both. Finely chop the cilantro. Mix them all and set aside.

    Prepare the ASIAN SALAD DRESSING

    MIX IT ALL

    • Take a large Mixing Bowl. Add cold (room temperature) noodles, chopped up vegetables, and roasted cashews + Roasted Peanuts. Pour the Asian salad dressing generously on top. Toss Toss Toss with Salad Tongs till dressing covers the noodles. You can serve these immediately or refrigerate.

    More Vegetarian Asian Recipes

    • Chopped Asian Salad, Teriyaki Noodles, Air Fryer Tofu in Asian Sauce, General Tso's Meatballs, Garlic Noodles, Dan Dan Noodles and many more.

    Instant Pot Asian Recipes

    • Red Thai Curry, Green Thai Curry, Kung Pao Noodles, Thai Curry Noodles, Tom Yum

    Video

    Notes

    You can follow us onFacebook,Instagram,Pinterest&Twitter & You-tube for regular updates. And don’t forget to sign up for our E-Letter whenever we publish a new post.

    What else can I use instead of Soba Noodles?

    Although the recipe calls for Soba Noodles, but you can use any kind of noodles for this recipe. Even Spaghetti will work so well.

    Can I use regular sugar in place of Honey?

    Yes absolutely you can. Replace with the same amount of sugar. You can use brown sugar. You can also use agave nectar or a sweetener of your choice.

    What can I use to replace Soy Sauce?

    You can substitute soy sauce with either Tamari Sauce or Amino Liquids.

    What kind of Vinegar is used in the Asian Salad Dressing?

    Rice Vinegar is the best choice for this Salad Dressing. Since it is impossible to keep all the ingredients handy, you can easily use DISTILLED VINEGAR for the recipe.

    Can I skip the Sesame seed Oil in the recipe?

    Yes you can. Sesame seed oil adds nice sheen to the dressing. But you can skip it.

    Can I make this Salad ahead of time?

    Yes you can. Put the whole salad together and mix it well. Make sure to add enough Salad Dressing to drench it all. Then you can refrigerate it. It will stay good for 1-2 days.

    Can I cook the noodles ahead of time for this recipe?

    I wouldn't advise that. These noodles become very lumpy after a while even after a lot of washing under the cold water. The best way is to put the whole salad together and refrigerate.

    What kind of vegetables to use?

    For Asian Salads, cucumbers, carrots, cabbage, scallions and broccoli can be used. I take a shortcut and use pre-made salad bags from the grocery store. Just empty the whole bag in the bowl and done. No cutting needed. But you can use the vegetables of your choice and shred or thinly slice them to use in the salad.

    Kitchen Gadgets

    Instant Pot or Large Sauce Pan

    Inner Pot

    Kitchen Colander

    Mixing Bowl

    Small Whisk

    Chopping board and Knife

    Measuring Cups & Spoon

    Salad Tongs

    Small Dressing Jar

    Nutrition

    Serving: 6servings | Calories: 85kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 55mg | Potassium: 95mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 25IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg

    I am sure you are going to make this recipe soon. Please leave your feedback in the comments section.

    Thanks,

    Sonal

    Related

    Easy Cold Soba Noodles Salad Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    What goes with cold soba noodles? ›

    The best side dishes to serve with cold soba noodles are egg roll in a bowl, poached eggs, Las Vegas roll, Chinese curry sauce, crispy tofu, peanut butter ramen, chicken dumplings, tsuyu sauce, grilled teriyaki chicken, vegetable tempura, miso soup, gyoza, Asian slaw, pork tonkatsu, edamame, and Alaska roll.

    Are cold soba noodles healthy? ›

    Served cold or hot, soba noodles are a delicious and nutritious alternative to traditional pastas and other noodles. They're a good source of: manganese. fiber.

    How do you pimp soba noodles? ›

    Instead of toasted buckwheat, you can also top the soba noodles with toasted sesame seeds or gomasio. Tip: You can also make your own gomasio by toasting sesame seeds, grinding them finely and mixing them with sea salt or Himalayan salt.

    What is cold soba sauce made of? ›

    The classic dipping sauce for soba is a combination of dashi, soy sauce, mirin, and a bit of sugar. An assortment of relish-style items is also paired with the noodles: a dab of wasabi, some freshly grated daikon, and finely chopped green scallions.

    What do Japanese people eat with soba noodles? ›

    Common ingredients added to soba noodle dishes are sesame seeds, green vegetables, soy sauce, or a tasty dipping sauce. But there are plenty of other variations for you to try.

    What protein to eat with cold soba noodles? ›

    Light and refreshing, this cool soup is perfect on a hot summer's day. You can serve it as is, or add your choice of protein (such as chicken or tofu) for a more substantial meal.

    Do soba noodles spike blood sugar? ›

    Soba noodles are good for your health because they are gluten-free, high in flavonoids, and help balance your blood sugar. Soba noodles are a Japanese alternative to regular pasta. They're mostly made with buckwheat flour, which is both gluten-free and full of healthy proteins, vitamins, and minerals.

    Are soba noodles anti-inflammatory? ›

    And seeing as we love to get as much mileage out of our healthy ingredients as possible, it's easy to understand why soba noodles are at the top of our list of staple pantry items these days: they're packed with anti-inflammatory and nutrient-rich buckwheat.

    Is soba healthier than ramen? ›

    There are many regional varieties of soba with their own toppings as well. For example, "Kitsune Soba" features deep-fried tofu. Note: Lower in calories, Soba Noodles are healthier than Udon or Ramen Noodles!

    How to spice up instant soba noodles? ›

    Popular additions include onion, garlic, ginger chilli and soy sauce. Other vegetables may include mushrooms or broccoli. Meat eaters may want some prawns, chicken or beef strips, vegetarians or vegans may prefer tofu. Noodles and pasta are very similar, especially with long, thin pastas such as spaghetti.

    Should you rinse soba noodles? ›

    Always rinse soba noodles under cold running water to remove the surface starch and drain them well afterwards. Keep in mind that fresh soba cooks faster than dried soba. Once the soba noodles are cooked, be sure to serve them immediately while they are fresh.

    Which is better, soba or udon? ›

    Which is Healthier, Udon or Soba? With its wholegrain like appearance and buckwheat heavy base, Soba is the healthier choice when it comes to your Asian noodle game. This is because buckwheat is lower in carbohydrates and lower in calories so it's a good choice for those trying to cut back.

    What to pair with soba noodles? ›

    Serve toppings warm or cold, cooked or raw. Steamed baby bok choy, radishes, bean sprouts, hard boiled egg half, cilantro. Edamame, shredded red cabbage, tofu, green onion. Steamed broccoli, sautéed mushrooms, red bell pepper, sesame seeds.

    Why is soba so expensive? ›

    The prices of Japan's beloved 'soba' noodles have been increased for the first time in 10 years due to Ukraine's invasion. Ukraine, also known as the “breadbasket of the world,” is unable to export its products to Europe, Africa, and Asia that relies on the vast, fertile farmlands of the Black Sea region.

    Is soba basically ramen? ›

    The differences between ramen and soba noodles

    The main difference between the two types of noodles is their flavor. Soba noodles are typically made with buckwheat flour, but ramen noodles are made from a more traditional wheat flour.

    What do you eat with cold Korean noodles? ›

    I went with the things I've seen it served with it restaurants: silvers of cucumber and pickled radish, along with Asian pear (pictured here), hard-boiled egg, and those brisket slices. At the table, pass around some mustard or mustard oil as well as some vinegar.

    What can I add to instant soba? ›

    All you need to do is cook the noodles in some boiling water, then add to a frying pan with your favourite ingredients. Popular additions include onion, garlic, ginger chilli and soy sauce. Other vegetables may include mushrooms or broccoli.

    What are the best ways to enjoy soba? ›

    Soba is served either cold with a dipping sauce, or in a hot broth with a variety of different toppings. Many soba connoisseurs in Japan prefer to eat their noodles served cold so they can better savour soba's delicate aroma and flavours.

    Why do people eat cold soba? ›

    Many people think that the best way to experience the unique texture of hand-made soba noodles is to eat them cold, since letting them soak in hot broth changes their consistency.

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