Best Easy Spicy Udon Cold Salad Recipes

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COLD NOODLE SALAD WITH SPICY PEANUT SAUCE



Cold Noodle Salad With Spicy Peanut Sauce image

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.

Provided by Hetty McKinnon

Categories     dinner, weekday, noodles, main course

Time 20m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

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

Steps:

  • 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.
  • 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 1/4 to 1/2 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.
  • Cut the zucchini or cucumber and radishes into 1/8-inch thick slices, then cut into thin matchsticks. Slice the peppers into 1/8-inch pieces. Place them all in a large bowl.
  • Loosen the soba noodles by running them under some water, then allow to drain again. Add them to the vegetables, add the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil and toss to combine.
  • When you are ready to serve, drizzle with spicy peanut sauce and top with peanuts, scallions and cilantro. Serve immediately, with lime wedges alongside.

COLD SESAME NOODLE SALAD



Cold Sesame Noodle Salad image

Udon noodles are thick Japanese noodles similar in size to linguine and can be found in Asian markets and some supermarkets. The salad can be garnished with an assortment of ingredients, including enoki mushrooms, fresh bean sprouts, chopped cilantro, scallions, and toasted sesame seeds.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Salad Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 14

One 12-ounce package Udon noodles or linguine
2 large cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons dark sesame oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup rice-wine vinegar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon chili paste (optional)
2 scallions, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 tablespoon grated ginger
Fresh bean sprouts (optional)
Enoki mushrooms (optional)

Steps:

  • Combine garlic, ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar, peanut butter, chili paste (if using), scallions, sesame seeds, cilantro, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir until combined; set aside while cooking noodles.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the noodles, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain in a colander, and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking.
  • Transfer noodles to a bowl, pour dressing over, and toss to coat. Sprinkle with scallions, sesame seeds, and cilantro. Add sprouts and mushrooms, if desired. Serve.

JAPANESE-STYLE TUNA NOODLE SALAD



Japanese-Style Tuna Noodle Salad image

Here's a simple udon salad I picked up from the chef and entrepreneur Bart van Olphen, who elevates canned tuna to the heights of deliciousness. Van Olphen dresses the noodles in what he calls wafu dressing, which translates roughly as Japanese-style: a sweet-salty vinaigrette of soy, sesame oil, mirin and rice vinegar. I add a little sweet miso for texture and taste, and increase the amount of seaweed in the salad as well. Garnish with sesame seeds or furikake, the Japanese seasoning blend, and you have a superior tuna casserole. It is as good served cold as hot.

Provided by Sam Sifton

Categories     dinner, weeknight, noodles, salads and dressings, seafood, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1/4 cup cut dried wakame seaweed
8 ounces dried udon noodles (or whatever noodles you have on hand)
1 to 2 tablespoons furikake or sesame seeds
10 to 12 ounces tuna in oil, drained
2 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon mirin
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sweet miso

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high, and set the wakame in a small bowl. Once the water comes to a boil, ladle or pour enough over the wakame to cover it by 2 inches; let the wakame soak for 10 minutes. Transfer the wakame to a colander to drain and cool; set aside.
  • While the wakame soaks, cook the noodles according to the package instructions.
  • Meanwhile, prepare the dressing: In a measuring cup or bowl, whisk to combine the sesame oil, canola oil, rice wine vinegar, mirin, soy sauce and miso; set aside.
  • In a small skillet, lightly toast the sesame seeds, if using, over medium-low heat until fragrant; set aside.
  • Drain the cooked noodles in the colander, then transfer to a wide, shallow serving bowl. Add the wakame and about 3/4 of the dressing, and toss to coat. Divide the noodles among 4 bowls. Top each portion with tuna, drizzle with the remaining dressing, then sprinkle with the scallions and furikake or sesame seeds. Serve hot, cold or anywhere in between.

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