Sesame Avocado and Soba Noodle Salad (Printable version)
Buckwheat noodles with avocado and crisp veggies in a savory sesame dressing. Perfect for light lunches.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Soba Noodles
01 - 7 oz soba noodles
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 large avocado, diced
03 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
04 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
05 - 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
06 - 2 green onions, sliced
07 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
→ Sesame Dressing
08 - 3 tbsp toasted sesame oil
09 - 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
10 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
11 - 1 tbsp lime juice
12 - 1 tbsp maple syrup
13 - 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
14 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
15 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
→ Garnish
16 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
17 - Additional cilantro or green onions
# How to Make It:
01 - Cook soba noodles according to package directions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to halt cooking process. Set aside in colander.
02 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, maple syrup, grated ginger, minced garlic, and 1 tablespoon sesame seeds until fully emulsified.
03 - In a large serving bowl, combine cooled noodles, shredded cabbage, julienned carrot, sliced cucumber, green onions, and cilantro. Toss gently to distribute vegetables evenly.
04 - Pour prepared dressing over noodle mixture. Using salad tongs or large spoons, toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated with sesame dressing.
05 - Carefully fold diced avocado into salad, taking care not to mash the cubes. Mix just until incorporated.
06 - Divide salad among four serving bowls. Sprinkle with reserved sesame seeds and additional fresh herbs if desired. Serve immediately while noodles remain slightly chilled.
# Expert tips:
01 -
- The nutty soba noodles soak up that incredible sesame dressing like they were made for each other
- You can prep everything in advance and toss it together in minutes when hunger strikes
- Creamy avocado against crunchy vegetables makes every bite a texture adventure
02 -
- Soba noodles can go from perfect to sticky in seconds, so rinse them thoroughly with cold water immediately after draining
- Wait until the last possible moment to add the avocado or it will start to brown and get mushy
03 -
- Use a vegetable peeler to create long, elegant ribbons from the carrot instead of tedious julienne cuts
- Let the dressed salad sit for 10 minutes before serving so the noodles can really absorb all those flavors