This easy and flavorful Asian-inspired soba noodle salad is perfect with any veggies you have on hand, and can be served cold, warm, or at room temperature.
I love a good pasta salad, and that doesn’t have to mean the Italian dressed salad that usually first comes to mind. Noodle salads are extremely versatile and are a great way to use up any veggies you have left in your fridge! My Soba Noodle Salad with Sesame Ginger Soy Vinaigrette can be served either hot or cold, and is a great option for make ahead lunches, or for entertaining!
Ingredients:
- For the salad: soba noodles, green beans, grated carrot, scallions (green onions), and black roasted sesame seeds.
- For the vinaigrette: lime juice, soy sauce, sugar, grated ginger, sesame oil, and chili paste (optional for a kick of heat).
How to Make Soba Noodle Salad with Sesame Ginger Soy Vinaigrette
Start your soba noodle salad by cooking your soba noodles in salted water. Add the cut green beans for the last couple of minutes.
Then strain the noodles and green beans, making sure you rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and keep the green beans from overcooking. Set aside.
Then in a medium to large measuring cup, add the soy sauce and lime juice.
Next add the sesame oil.
Then use a microplane to grate fresh ginger into the vinaigrette.
Then add the sugar.
Finish with the chili paste. If you don’t like spicy food, you can skip this step.
Whisk the vinaigrette together until the sugar has fully dissolved.
Then in a large bowl, put in your noodles, green beans, grated carrots, and chopped scallions.
Pour the sesame ginger soy vinaigrette over the top of the noodle salad.
Toss well until evenly coated, seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
Finish your soba noodle salad with the black roasted sesame seeds before serving either hot or cold, whatever you prefer!
Change It Up
- Make it gluten-free. Soba noodles are already gluten free, so just make sure your soy sauce is gluten free (like tamari brand), and this dish is celiac friendly!
- Switch up the veggies. Instead of green beans, use broccoli or asparagus! Or add them all together.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are soba noodles fattening?
No. Soba noodles are lower in carbs than typical pasta, and very low in fat while being a good source of fiber.
Is soba better hot or cold?
Soba is just as good served hot as it is cold. It’s all about your personal preference, or even the weather or temperature outside!
How do you store leftover soba noodles?
Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
More Asian Inspired Recipes
- Sesame Chicken and Napa Cabbage Stir Fry
- Spicy Chicken Ramen
- Garlicky Bok Choy
- Teriyaki Baked Chicken Thighs
- Vietnamese Shrimp Salad
Did you try this recipe and love it? The next time you make it, snap a picture and share it to your socials! Tag @thelemonbowl and #thelemonbowl so we can admire and share your meal.
I’ve enjoyed my Soba Noodle Salad with Sesame Ginger Soy Vinaigrette both hot and cold, and either way, it’s a great way to get my family to eat a filling, nutritious meal. Let me know how your family likes it in a comment!
Your fork is waiting.
Soba Noodle Salad with Sesame Ginger Soy Vinaigrette
Ingredients
Noodles
- 8 ounces Japanese soba noodles
- 2 cups green beans (trimmed and cut in 2 in. pieces)
- 1 medium carrot (grated)
- ½ cup scallions (minced)
- 2 tablespoons black roasted sesame seeds
- salt and pepper to taste
Sesame Ginger Soy Vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- ½ tablespoon chili paste (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add soba noodles. Cook according to package instructions adding the green beans 2 minutes before the end of cooking time.
- Drain noodles and green beans in a strainer and rinse with cold water to stop cooking process. (This keeps the beans bright green.)
- In the bottom of a medium bowl, whisk together the vinaigrette: lime juice, soy sauce, sugar, ginger, sesame oil, and sambal oelek (chili paste).
- Add the soba noodles and green beans to the bowl with the vinaigrette along with the grated carrot, scallions, and black roasted sesame seeds.
- Toss well to coat and season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.
This looks wonderful! I love Asian food- especially soba noodles (is it weird I find them totally different than plain ‘ole spaghetti?). I can’t it to try this!
I totally agree – they are totally different!
This looks really great! Love ginger!
Me too!! I buy so much every week!!
Delicious for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! :)
I totally agree Sandy!!
This looks delicious!
Silly/weird question: I am cooking dinner for my meat eating new beau and was thinking this soba noodle salad, fresh spring rolls, and something?!
What do you recommend as the something? I don’t eat meat, but would like to have something for the carnivore – preferably something were I can either eat around the meat or make a meatless version.
Any suggestions that go with the asian theme menu?
Hmm…well one idea is edamame. My husband LOVES it and it’s packed with protein. Otherwise, perhaps a wonton soup with store-bought frozen dumplings? Hope that helps!
It is never too hot to boil up some noodles! I grew up eating Asian take out. I love the flavors here. Such a great recipe!
I agree!! Thanks Stefanie!
This looks fantastic — and thanks for calling our attention to PF Chang’s summer menu. I loved the video on their website describing the process of creating fresh, seasonal offerings. Awesome guys with a great sense of style and personality —
I can’t wait to try it myself, Elizabeth!
These flavors are my FAVORITE! I love the soba noodles too, I need to cook with those more often!
I know. I go in spurts but love them for cold noodle dishes in the summer months.
Oh gah, all of your asian recipes look so delicious! :)
You are too sweet – thank you Addie!!
This looks so delicious, fresh and enticing, Liz! What a great summer meal! I love how easy it is, too.
You’re too sweet – thanks Georgia!!
Looks wonderful! I want to apply the same flavours to some zucchini noodles, I think that would work well! Pinned…
That’s an AWESOME idea!!!
I love eating cold noodle salads! This looks delicious and I am totally trying it.
So do I!! Pasta is my friend!
Liz, I love soba noodle salads and eat them throughout the summer. Love your dressing!
Same here – they are the perfect warm weather pasta!!
Loving how fresh these noodles look, I could go for some right now!
Thank you so much – they were so flavorful!
I made something very similar and I love it absolutely. Adding ginger is a great idea.
Ginger is one of my favorites..I add to smoothies and even fruit crisps! Enjoy!
YUM
Yum yum yum, Liz! I already have a list of your recipes to try out – but I’m adding this one for sure.
Oh good I hope you enjoy it Margeaux!!
This salad has my name written all over it! Pass me a fork, yo!
It totally does!! Extra ginger nub for you!
Mmmmm…I’m lovin’ this, Liz! All those flavors in a bowl of noodles, fabulous!
I am all about bowls of noodles this pregnancy!! :)
YUM!! I would attempt to eat this with chopsticks and after 2 seconds I’d have to trade to a fork.
LOL I love that!! Me too. ;)
I can eat noodle salad like this every day!! Looks so fresh. Love it!
Same here sista!!