Ramen Noodle Salad with Peanut Dressing (Easy Recipe)

Ingredients Needed for Crunchy Ramen Noodles Salad

Dressing Ingredients:

• Peanut Butter: We use ½ cup of creamy peanut butter as the base for the peanut sauce. Crunchy peanut butter also works if you'd like to add crunch and texture to the sauce.
• Lime Juice: You'll need the juice of 2 limes or about 2 tablespoons. The lime juice adds some acidity to mix with the oils and cut through the peanut butter.
• Olive Oil and Sesame Oil: You'll need 3 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil to give this sauce a thinner texture. The sesame oil adds another layer of flavor.
• Soy Sauce: We use 2 tablespoons of soy sauce to give this sauce an Asian-inspired taste. Soy sauce is salty, so use a low-sodium variety if desired.
• Chili Garlic Sauce: You'll need 1 to 2 tablespoons of chili garlic sauce for flavor and a kick of heat. Adjust this ingredient to taste. Sambal Oelek or even sriracha work well if you can't find chili garlic sauce.
• Honey: We use 1 tablespoon of honey to balance the spicy chili garlic sauce.
• Ginger Paste and Garlic Paste: You'll need 1 teaspoon each of ginger paste and garlic paste for flavor. These are usually located in the produce section in the supermarket. If you can't find the pastes, use ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger or garlic powder. One inch of raw ginger or one clove of garlic will also work.

Salad Ingredients:

• Butter: You'll need 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter to toast the ramen noodles. Swap the unsalted butter with salted if desired but consider using low-sodium soy sauce.
• Uncooked Ramen Noodles: You'll need 2 packets of ramen noodles. Discard the flavoring packet for each.
• Cabbage: We use 3 cups each of shredded green cabbage and red cabbage to make the bulk of the salad.
• Add-ins: Peanuts, cilantro, green onions, and sesame seeds make up the crunchy, flavorful add-ins. Any of these may be substituted for other ingredients.

3. In a large bowl, combine the green and red cabbage, carrots, peanuts, cilantro, green onions, and sesame seeds. Add in the peanut dressing, then toss in the toasted noodles until combined.

Tips and Notes

• Time saving tip: To keep the prep super minimal,, use pre-cut matchstick carrots as opposed to slicing them up yourself. Or, use a coleslaw mix instead of shredding cabbage.
• No ginger paste? In a pinch, you can swap it out for dried ginger. The flavor won’t be quite as good, but it will work just fine.
• Add more veggies. Try edamame, green onion, cucumber, pepper, mushrooms, water chestnuts, you name it.
• Add a protein. Make your salad ramen Asian noodle salad even more filling by adding in rotisserie chicken, flat iron steak, salmon, or tofu to keep it vegetarian.
• Spice it up. If you like an extra kick of heat, try adding some Sriracha to the sauce or drizzle it on top as a finishing touch.

Serving Suggestions

I love to serve a generous helping of this topped up with freshly chopped cilantro, sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and lime wedges! 

It’s a perfect light lunch on its own, but it also makes an excellent side dish next to Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli, Pan Seared Steak, Baked Salmon, or grilled chicken!

Storage:

Make-Ahead: If you want to prepare your ramen noodles salad in advance, you can assemble the salad the day before and make the dressing, but leave them separate. Store them in separate containers in the fridge, then combine them just before serving! 

Refrigerator: A fully assembled cold ramen noodle salad is best served immediately, but will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days!

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