Thai Peanut Noodle Salad

Cold rice noodles in a creamy peanut dressing with crunchy vegetables and fresh herbs. This is my summer lunch on repeat.

Main Dish · Prep 15 min · Cook 5 min · Serves 4 · Easy · By Tina · Published

Thai Peanut Noodle Salad - main dish recipe

Ingredients

  • 250 g rice noodles, thin
  • 3 tbsp peanut butter, smooth
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 lime, juiced
  • 1 tbsp ginger, grated
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 0.5 tsp chili flakes
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 carrots, julienned
  • 1 cucumber, julienned
  • 100 g red cabbage, shredded
  • 1 handful fresh cilantro
  • 3 tbsp peanuts, crushed

When it is too hot to cook, this is what I make. Cold noodles, crunchy vegetables, and a peanut dressing that is slightly sweet, slightly spicy, and entirely addictive.

The dressing is the star — peanut butter, lime juice, soy sauce, ginger, and a hit of chili. It sounds like a lot of ingredients but you just whisk everything together. No cooking required.

I love this because you can prep everything ahead and assemble when you are ready. The noodles and veggies keep separately in the fridge for days. The dressing keeps for a week. Lunch for the whole week, sorted.

Pro Tips

  • Rinse the rice noodles under cold water after cooking and toss with a little sesame oil. This prevents them from clumping into a brick.
  • Julienne the vegetables thin. You want them to tangle with the noodles, not sit on top like logs.
  • Add the dressing right before eating. Noodles that sit in the dressing too long get soggy.
  • Crushed peanuts on top are not optional. You need that crunch.

Serving

Pile high in a bowl, drizzle with extra dressing, top with crushed peanuts, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges. Eat cold.

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