Garlic Noodle Salad (Print version)

Cold noodles dressed with garlic oil, soy sauce, and fresh vegetables for a vibrant, easy-to-make meal.

# What You Need:

→ Noodles

01 - 8.8 oz dried wheat noodles (lo mein, spaghetti, or soba)

→ Garlic Oil

02 - 3 tbsp neutral oil (grapeseed or vegetable)
03 - 5 large garlic cloves, finely minced
04 - 1 tsp toasted sesame oil

→ Salad Vegetables

05 - 1 cup julienned carrot
06 - 1 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
07 - 1 cup deseeded and julienned cucumber
08 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
09 - 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro leaves

→ Dressing

10 - 3 tbsp soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
11 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
12 - 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
13 - 1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional)
14 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

15 - 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
16 - Lime wedges (optional)

# How to Make:

01 - Prepare noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking. Place noodles in a large mixing bowl.
02 - Warm neutral oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add minced garlic and sauté gently until fragrant and golden, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in sesame oil, and allow to cool slightly.
03 - Combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, chili flakes (if using), and freshly ground black pepper in a small bowl. Whisk until blended.
04 - Pour garlic oil and dressing over cooled noodles. Toss thoroughly to ensure even coating.
05 - Incorporate carrots, bell pepper, cucumber, spring onions, and cilantro into noodles. Toss gently to combine evenly.
06 - Transfer to serving bowls or platter. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top and serve with lime wedges if desired.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • It tastes even better the next day when the flavors have had time to mingle and settle.
  • You can prep everything in advance and toss it together five minutes before eating.
  • It's one of those dishes that feels fancy enough to serve guests but casual enough for a solo lunch.
02 -
  • Rinsing the noodles after cooking is absolutely crucial—hot noodles will continue cooking and turn to mush if you skip this step.
  • Don't skip cooling the garlic oil slightly before adding it to the noodles; if it's too hot, the sesame oil will lose its subtle toasted flavor and the noodles can become gummy.
03 -
  • Make a double batch of the garlic oil and keep it in a jar in the fridge for drizzling over rice, vegetables, or soup throughout the week.
  • If your cilantro is wilting, soak it in ice water for ten minutes before chopping and it'll perk right back up to freshness.
Go back