Description
A vibrant and crunchy Asian-inspired ramen noodle salad featuring toasted ramen noodles, fresh coleslaw mix, nuts, and a tangy soy-sesame dressing. This salad is quick to prepare, perfect for a refreshing side dish or light meal, and delivers a wonderful texture contrast with every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 packages (3 oz each) ramen noodles (discard seasoning packets)
- 4 cups coleslaw mix (shredded green and red cabbage, and carrots)
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
- 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey (or sugar)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Instructions
- Prepare the noodles: Break the uncooked ramen noodles into small pieces and toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until they turn lightly golden and aromatic. Remove from heat and let them cool completely to retain crunch.
- Mix the salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the coleslaw mix, cooled toasted ramen noodles, toasted sliced almonds, sunflower seeds, thinly sliced green onions, and chopped fresh cilantro. Toss gently to distribute all ingredients evenly.
- Make the dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together olive oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey (or sugar), and sesame oil until the dressing is smooth and well emulsified.
- Toss and serve: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture. Toss everything together thoroughly to ensure all components are evenly coated with the dressing. Serve immediately to enjoy maximum crunch, or refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes to blend flavors slightly before serving.
Notes
- Toasting the ramen noodles before adding to the salad enhances their crunch and flavor.
- You can substitute honey with sugar if preferred or to make the recipe vegan.
- For a nut-free version, omit almonds and sunflower seeds or replace them with pumpkin seeds.
- Serve this salad immediately for best texture; refrigeration softens noodles but improves flavor melding.
- Add protein like grilled chicken or tofu to make it a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
