Vegan Spicy Peanut Soba Salad (Print View)

Vibrant soba noodles with spicy peanut dressing and crunchy, fresh slaw create a flavorful, light dish.

# Components:

→ Soba Noodles

01 - 7 oz soba noodles

→ Crunchy Slaw

02 - 1 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced
03 - 1 cup green cabbage, thinly sliced
04 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
05 - 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
06 - 3 scallions, sliced
07 - ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Spicy Peanut Dressing

08 - ⅓ cup natural peanut butter
09 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
10 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
11 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup
12 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
13 - 1 to 2 teaspoons sriracha
14 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
15 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
16 - 2 to 3 tablespoons warm water

→ Garnishes

17 - 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, chopped
18 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
19 - Lime wedges

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add soba noodles and cook according to package instructions. Drain in a colander and rinse thoroughly under cold water to halt the cooking process. Transfer to a clean bowl and set aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine red cabbage, green cabbage, julienned carrot, red bell pepper slices, scallions, and chopped cilantro. Toss gently to combine.
03 - In a medium bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, sesame oil, sriracha, minced garlic, and grated ginger until well combined. Gradually add warm water, one tablespoon at a time, whisking continuously until the dressing reaches a smooth, pourable consistency.
04 - Add the cooled soba noodles to the bowl containing the vegetable slaw. Pour the spicy peanut dressing over the mixture and toss thoroughly until all components are evenly coated with the dressing.
05 - Distribute the salad evenly among serving bowls. Top each portion with chopped roasted peanuts and sesame seeds. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side, or refrigerate for 30 minutes for a chilled presentation.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between chewy noodles and snappy raw vegetables creates a texture experience that keeps you coming back for another bite.
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes, which means you can actually make it on a weeknight without losing your mind.
  • This dressing is so good you might find yourself spooning extra onto everything else in your kitchen.
  • It tastes even better the next day when the flavors have had time to get cozy with each other.
02 -
  • Don't skip the ice water rinse on the noodles, because warm soba noodles will continue cooking and turn mushy if you don't stop the process completely.
  • Whisk the dressing before adding the noodles because cold peanut butter won't coat evenly, and warm water is the secret to making it silky without adding oil.
03 -
  • Make a double batch of dressing because once you taste it, you'll want it on everything from roasted vegetables to grain bowls to plain rice.
  • If your peanut butter is natural and separated with oil on top, don't drain it away, that oil actually helps create a silkier dressing than if you stirred it back in.
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