Dinner · From Adam's kitchen
Soba Noodle Salad
A cold, crunchy noodle salad with a punchy ginger, garlic, and black vinegar sauce. It is great for meal prep because it tastes even better the next day.
- Serves
- 4
- Skill
- Easy
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Total
- 25 min
Method
Cook and cool the noodles (5 min plus cooling)
Cook the soba according to the package, usually 3-5 minutes. Drain, then rinse under cold water, tossing with your hands.
Ready whenThe noodles feel cool and no longer starchy or sticky.
WhyRinsing washes off surface starch, so the noodles do not clump into one big block.
Prep the vegetables (10 min)
Thinly slice the cabbage and carrots into tiny matchsticks. Trim the bottom inch off the green onions and cut the rest into 1-inch pieces (on a diagonal looks nice). Roll the cilantro into a tight bundle and finely slice it.
Make the sauce (3 min)
Mix the ginger, garlic, soy sauce, black vinegar, sugar, chili garlic sauce, cilantro, and lime juice in a large bowl.
Toss (2 min)
Add the noodles and vegetables and toss until everything is coated.
Make it cheffy
Sizzle the aromatics
How
Put the ginger and garlic in a heatproof bowl. Heat 2 tbsp neutral oil until it just starts to shimmer, then carefully pour it over them. It will sizzle. Then stir in the rest of the sauce.
Why
Hot oil lightly cooks the garlic and ginger, softening their raw bite and releasing a toasty, fragrant flavor.
Swaps
- Black vinegar → rice vinegar.
- Soba → rice noodles for gluten-free (and use tamari instead of soy sauce).
Make ahead & storage
Make ahead
Great for meal prep; it tastes even better the next day.
Storage
This salad does not freeze. Make it ahead and keep it in the fridge. Add a splash of soy sauce or lime juice to refresh before serving.
Macros per serving
Estimate- Calories
- about 460
- Protein
- about 20 g
- Carbs
- about 102 g
- Fat
- about 1 g
Per serving, based on 4 servings and two 8-oz packages of soba. Check your package size. Add a protein like edamame, tofu, or shrimp to balance it out.
A few practical questions
Can I freeze Soba Noodle Salad?
No. Soba Noodle Salad does not freeze, so make it ahead and keep it in the fridge.
Can I make Soba Noodle Salad ahead?
Yes. It is great for meal prep and tastes even better the next day. Keep it in the fridge. Add a splash of soy sauce or lime juice to refresh before serving.
What can I use instead of black vinegar?
Use rice vinegar instead of black vinegar.
Can I swap the soba noodles?
Use rice noodles for a gluten-free version, and use tamari instead of soy sauce.