Sesame Avocado and Soba Noodle Salad (Printable)
Buckwheat noodles with avocado, crisp vegetables, and savory sesame dressing. Perfect light lunch ready in 30 minutes.
# What You 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 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
→ Sesame Dressing
08 - 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
09 - 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
10 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
11 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
12 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup
13 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
14 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
15 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
→ Garnish
16 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
17 - Additional cilantro or green onions
# How To Make It:
01 - Prepare soba noodles according to package directions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to halt the cooking process. Set aside in a colander.
02 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, maple syrup, grated ginger, minced garlic, and 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds until fully emulsified.
03 - Place the cooked noodles in a large serving bowl. Add the shredded red cabbage, julienned carrot, sliced cucumber, green onions, and cilantro. Toss ingredients to distribute evenly.
04 - Pour the prepared sesame dressing over the noodle and vegetable mixture. Use salad servers or tongs to gently toss until all components are lightly coated with the dressing.
05 - Gently fold the diced avocado into the salad, taking care not to mash the pieces. Maintain the texture and integrity of the avocado cubes.
06 - Portion the salad evenly among four serving bowls. Sprinkle the remaining toasted sesame seeds over each portion. Add extra cilantro or green onions as a finishing touch if desired. Serve immediately while noodles remain slightly chilled.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- Ready in 30 minutes but tastes like you planned ahead for days
- The creamy avocado balances the nutty buckwheat perfectly
- Keeps beautifully for lunch the next day if you dont add the avocado until serving
02 -
- Soba noodles stick together fiercely if you dont rinse them thoroughly under cold water
- The dressing looks thin but coats everything perfectly once you toss it
- Avocado turns brown if dressed too far in advance, fold it in at the very last minute
03 -
- Toast extra sesame seeds and keep them in a jar for future batches
- Double the dressing and keep it in the fridge for quick weeknight salads