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Cold Soba Noodle Salad with a Spicy Peanut Sauce

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This cold soba noodle salad with a spicy peanut sauce is an incredibly flavorful vegan meal with the perfect amount of crunch and freshness.

teal bowl with spicy peanut soba noodle salad beside chopsticks

This spicy peanut soba noodles recipe is easy and comes together in half an hour!

The spicy peanut sauce is addictive.

glass bowl with cold soba noodle salad and tongs

I'm pretty sure these vegan soba noodles were inspired by the recent feature that Bon Appetit magazine did on cold noodle salads.

The photos were so beautiful and vibrant, and who doesn't love noodles?! Is it weird that I get super excited when I receive the magazine in my mailbox each month? Simple pleasures.

bowl of spicy peanut noodle salad and lime wedges

Aside from that magazine feature, I keep hearing about soba noodles in general, but I had never made them myself before. It took me a couple trips to different grocery stories to find soba noodles (check the Asian aisle), and I am so glad I found them. It was time.

What are soba noodles?

In case you were wondering, soba noodles are simply Japanese buckwheat noodles. They're good warm or cold. They're easy to work with and only take a few minutes to cook. They also happen to be vegan, which is a handy little fact to file away.

These will now be in my Asian-inspired recipe arsenal forever.

two bundles of soba noodles

So what's in here?

  • Soba noodles
  • Grated carrot
  • Cilantro
  • Red peppers
  • Chopped peanuts
  • Chives
  • Sesame seeds
  • A spicy peanut sauce (make it as spicy or mild as you want!)

I ate this spicy peanut soba noodle salad a couple of days after I made it, and it still tasted good. This would actually be a good meal prep option for something a little bit different. You could also easily add some extra protein to it, like some of my favorite grilled shrimp.

bowl of spicy peanut soba noodle salad with two lime wedges

If you've read this blog for any length of time (it's ok to just look at the pretty pictures tho), you will have read this next line like a thousand times and roll your eyes... so here we go. I do not handle spice well. I, for real, enjoyed this recipe as written with the 2 teaspoons of sriracha sauce. You go girl! I'd suggest including at least 1 teaspoon of it for flavor purposes, but you can also add more if you're not like me. Play with it 'til it makes your taste buds sing.

Questions about this recipe? Leave me a comment below.

Hope you will love this easy soba noodle recipe as much as I did!

If you like this recipe, I think that you may also like my 15 minute buttery garlic ginger noodles, these veggie lettuce wraps with a peanut sauce, or my garlic lime cashew zoodles.

This cold soba noodle salad with a spicy peanut sauce is an incredibly flavorful vegan meal with the perfect amount of crunch and freshness.

Cold Soba Noodle Salad with a Spicy Peanut Dressing

This soba noodle salad recipe makes a delicious vegan meal with the perfect amount of crunch and freshness!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Asian
Servings 2

Ingredients
 

  • 6.4 ounces soba noodles (I used half a package - anything around 6 oz. will work)
  • 1/2 red bell pepper chopped
  • 1 large carrot grated
  • 1/2 tablespoon (or to taste) chopped chives or scallions
  • 1 tablespoon cilantro chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chopped peanuts

Dressing:

  • 3 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 2 teaspoons sriracha sauce (or to taste)
  • Juice of 1/2 lime
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
  • 1 tablespoon water

Instructions
 

  • Cook the soba noodles according to package directions. Rinse them under cold water, make sure they're well drained, then allow them to cool while you prep the other ingredients. 
  • Prep the remaining ingredients and add them to a large bowl, and whisk the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl. 
  • Toss the noodles and other ingredients with the dressing until everything is coated (I found it easiest to do this with tongs). 
  • Serve immediately or chill for later. Recipe keeps in the fridge for a few days.

Notes

  • Tip: The ginger is easiest to grate if you freeze it first. I always keep some fresh ginger in the freezer for this reason. 
  • Serves 2-4.
Keyword cold soba noodle salad, spicy peanut soba noodle salad, vegan soba noodles
Author Natasha Bull
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  1. Susan says

    Great summer dish. I'm adding edamame to the mix as I'm vegan and always trying to amp up my salads. Love the peanut sauce,

    Reply

  3. Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says

    Soba Noodles are my saving grace on hot days! Love that you added peanut sauce and a whole bunch of fresh veggies - doesn't get any better than that.

    Reply

  10. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    I love cold noodle salads in the summer Natasha! I bet that spicy peanut dressing is awesome!

    Reply

  11. Katherine | Love In My Oven says

    I love soba noodles, and I LOVE spicy peanut sauce. This is definitely something I would make!! Great work (and I also love getting a magazine in the mail) 🙂

    Reply

  12. Jenny | The Baking Skillet says

    Loving everything that is going on this bowl! A filling yet light and summery meal. The peanut sauce sounds delicious.

    Reply