Raw Vegetable Noodle Salad (Printable)

Crisp spiralized vegetables in zesty sesame-ginger dressing, ready in 25 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large zucchini, spiralized
02 - 1 large carrot, spiralized
03 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
04 - 1 cup red cabbage, thinly shredded
05 - 1 cucumber, spiralized
06 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
07 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Sesame-Ginger Dressing

08 - 3 tbsp toasted sesame oil
09 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar
10 - 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
11 - 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
12 - 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
13 - 1 clove garlic, minced
14 - 1 tsp lime juice
15 - 1/2 tsp chili flakes

→ Garnish

16 - 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
17 - 1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts or cashews

# Steps:

01 - Spiralize the zucchini, carrot, and cucumber. Thinly slice the red bell pepper, shred the red cabbage, slice the green onions, and chop the fresh cilantro. Place all prepared vegetables in a large mixing bowl.
02 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together the toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce or tamari, grated ginger, maple syrup or honey, minced garlic, lime juice, and chili flakes until fully emulsified.
03 - Pour the sesame-ginger dressing over the prepared vegetables. Use salad servers or clean hands to toss gently until all vegetables are evenly coated with the dressing.
04 - Let the salad sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the vegetables to soften slightly while maintaining their crunch.
05 - Transfer the salad to a serving platter. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and chopped roasted peanuts or cashews. Garnish with additional fresh cilantro if desired. Serve immediately for optimal texture and freshness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like something from a fancy café
  • The dressing keeps for days in the fridge, making weekday lunches incredibly easy
  • You can prep everything ahead and it actually gets better as it sits
02 -
  • Spiralized vegetables release water as they sit, so if you are making this ahead, wait to dress it until shortly before serving
  • The dressing intensifies in flavor over time, so tasting and adjusting the seasoning right before serving is always a good idea
  • Not all spiralizers are created equal, handheld models work fine but countertop versions make longer, more uniform noodles
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and golden, it makes a huge difference
  • If you prefer more heat, add a teaspoon of Sriracha or sambal oelek to the dressing
  • A mandoline works well for the bell pepper and cabbage if you want paper-thin, uniform slices
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