Cold Noodle Salad With Spicy Peanut Sauce

Name: Cold Noodle Salad With Spicy Peanut Sauce
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: Kosher salt; 10 ounces soba noodles; 1 medium zucchini or cucumber (about 6 ounces); 5 radishes (about 4 ounces); 1 bell pepper (any color); 1 tablespoon sesame oil; 1/2 cup roasted salted peanuts (about 2 ounces), roughly chopped; 2 scallions, trimmed and finely chopped; Handful of cilantro leaves; 1 lime, cut into wedges for serving; 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter (not natural); 1/4 cup soy sauce; 2 tablespoons maple syrup; 2 tablespoons lime juice (from 1 lime); 1 tablespoon sesame oil; 2 teaspoons chile oil or hot sauce, plus more to taste; 1 garlic clove, grated

By Hetty Lui McKinnon

Updated March 12, 2025

Cold Noodle Salad With Spicy Peanut Sauce — Christopher Simpson for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Total Time: 20 minutes
Rating: 4(7,802)
Comments: Read comments

Soba, Japanese buckwheat noodles, are ideal for salads because they taste particularly great when served cold. Crunchy vegetables are highlighted here, adding lots of crisp, fresh texture. Substitute with any raw vegetables you have on hand, such as cabbage, carrot, fennel, asparagus, broccoli or cauliflower. The spicy peanut sauce is very adaptable: If you don’t want to use peanut butter, you can use any nut or seed butter, like cashew, almond, sunflower or even tahini. Both the soba and the peanut sauce can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge overnight, but wait to combine them until you are ready to eat for the best texture and consistency. The peanut sauce thickens as it sits, so add a tablespoon or two of water to loosen it up, if necessary.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

For the Salad

Kosher salt
10ounces soba noodles
1medium zucchini or cucumber (about 6 ounces)
5radishes (about 4 ounces)
1bell pepper (any color)
1tablespoon sesame oil
½cup roasted salted peanuts (about 2 ounces), roughly chopped
2scallions, trimmed and finely chopped
Handful of cilantro leaves
1lime, cut into wedges for serving

For the Spicy Peanut Sauce

½cup smooth peanut butter (not natural)
¼cup soy sauce
2tablespoons maple syrup
2tablespoons lime juice (from 1 lime)
1tablespoon sesame oil
2teaspoons chile oil or hot sauce, plus more to taste
1garlic clove, grated

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

Make the recipe with us

Step 1
Bring a pot of salted water to the boil. Add the soba, stir to prevent sticking, and cook according to package instructions until just tender. Rinse under cold water until the noodles are completely cold.
Step 2
Meanwhile, make the sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter, soy sauce, maple syrup, lime juice, sesame oil, chile oil or hot sauce, and garlic. Add ¼ to ½ cup water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and whisk until the sauce is a pourable consistency. Taste and add more chile oil or hot sauce as desired; set aside.
Step 3
Cut the zucchini or cucumber and radishes into ⅛-inch thick slices, then cut into thin matchsticks. Slice the peppers into ⅛-inch pieces. Place them all in a large bowl.
Step 4
Loosen the soba noodles by running them under some water, then allow to drain again.
Step 5
Add the soba noodles to the vegetables, add the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil and toss to combine.
Step 6
When you are ready to serve, drizzle with spicy peanut sauce and top with peanuts, scallions and cilantro. Serve immediately, with lime wedges alongside.

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Ratings

4 out of 5

7,802 user ratings

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Comments

Acfh3 years ago

Why not natural peanut butter? Also can I use spiralized zucchini or summer squash noodles?

lynn rogers3 years ago

Because the processed peanut butters emulsify more readily into the sauces… because of the added stuff, oils in them. I won’t use them and like you always am able to make great results with natural peanut butter …

Beto3 years ago

I like a little fresh grated ginger and chopped cilantro in my peanut sauce.

Charlie17 hours ago

Good but needs...something. I added shredded cabbage for extra crunch and that was really nice, also more lime juice, salt, and chili. I agree that the original recipe sauce is good on it's own but bland on the noodles, so it needs to be amped up.

PattyFab1 week ago

Add some shredded napa cabbage.

KLVT1 week ago

Tasty! I used lo mein noodles and carrots instead of radishes, because that's what I had. Used gochujang paste for the hot sauce, and added some grated ginger to the sauce. I agree with the folks who suggested tossing the noodles with sauce then putting the veggies on top.

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