Cold Soba Noodle Salad (Refreshing Japanese Summer Recipe)

Name: Cold Soba Noodle Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 2 bundles soba noodles (3 oz per bundle); ½ cup julienned carrot; ½ cup shredded red cabbage; 1 cup shelled edamame; 4 scallions (sliced); ¼ cup cilantro; Sesame seeds (for garnish); ¼ cup lime juice; ¼ cup rice vinegar; ¼ cup soy sauce; 2 Tablespoons honey; 1 Tablespoon toasted sesame oil; 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds; 2 teaspoons grated ginger; A dash crushed red pepper

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This Cold Soba Noodle Salad is a light and refreshing Japanese dish, perfect for warm weather! Chilled soba noodles are tossed with crunchy vegetables and a lime soy dressing for a simple meal that feels hearty, nourishing, and satisfying.

This post is sponsored by Heinen's, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cold soba noodle salad recipe with edamame shredded vegetables, cilantro, and sesame seeds.

This easy recipe comes together in under 15 minutes. It's great for lunch, a light dinner after a busy day, or as part of a Japanese-style meal at home. It's especially great on hot days, when you want something cool, easy, and refreshing.

This is a lighter and brighter version of Peanut Sauce Cold Soba Noodle Salad. Sesame and mayo-based Japanese Cold Ramen Noodle Salad is also a similar variation and irresistibly delicious. If you love refreshing Asian salad, also try Spring Roll Noodle Salad and Crispy Rice Salad!

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What is Cold Soba Noodle Salad?
Why You'll Love This Cold Saba Salad
Ingredients
How to Make Cold Soba Noodle Salad (Step-by-Step)
How to Cook Soba Noodles
Tips for the Best Cols Soba Salad
What to Serve with Cold Soba Noodle Salad
Soba Salad Dressing Variations
Storage and Make Ahead
Variations
FAQ
Cold Soba Noodle Salad

What is Cold Soba Noodle Salad?

Cold soba noodle salad is a light and refreshing Japanese dish made with chilled soba noodles, crunchy vegetables, and a simple dressing. It's a modern take on the traditional soba noodle dish.

Soba noodles are thin noodles made mainly from buckwheat flour. They are often served cold in Japan with dipping sauce on the side. When tossed with crisp ingredients like cabbage and a tangy soy-based dressing, they create a hearty yet refreshing meal that's both satisfying and simple to throw together.

Chopsticks lifting cold soba noodle salad with vegetables and sesame seeds.

Why You'll Love This Cold Saba Salad

Refreshing on Hot Days: Chilled noodles and crisp vegetables are tossed in lime soy dressing, perfect for an easy summer meal.
Quick and Easy: You can make this nutritious meal in under 15 minutes on busy weekday nights.
Customizable: Add your favorite vegetables and protein, like grilled chicken or shrimp, to make it your own.

Ingredients

For the Soba Salad

Soba noodles: Use fresh, dry, or frozen soba noodles. Cooking time varies depending on the type you use.
Carrot and red cabbage: These vegetables add a satisfying crunch.
Edamame: Use shelled and boiled edamame. I always boil frozen shelled edamame.
Scallions and cilantro: Brighten up the flavor.
Sesame seeds: For the garnish.

For the Dressing

Lime juice: Freshly squeezed is the best.
Rice vinegar and soy sauce: Japanese staple condiments.
Honey: Naturally sweeten the dressing. You can also use maple syrup or granulated sugar.
Toasted sesame oil and sesame seeds: Add richness.
Ginger and crushed red pepper: for a little heat.

How to Make Cold Soba Noodle Salad (Step-by-Step)

Sesame soy dressing with chili flakes in a jar for cold soba noodle salad.

Cook the soba noodles according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under the running water.
In a jar, combine all dressing ingredients. Secure the lid and shake well to combine.

Ingredients for cold soba noodle salad with edamame shredded carrot and red cabbage on the cooked soba noodles.

In a large bowl, toss the cooked soba noodles, carrot, red cabbage, edamame, and the dressing. Divide into serving bowls and top with scallions, cilantro, and sesame seeds.

How to Cook Soba Noodles

Cooking soba noodles seems like a simple step, but doing it the right way makes a big difference! Here are a few tips you can use.

First, bring a large pot of water to a boil and let the noodles dance in the pot. A crowded pot can break noodles shorter while cooking. Use 8 cups of boiling water for 1-2 servings of noodles. Sprinkle noodles into the pot. Once they start to soften and dance in the pot, stir with cooking chopsticks or a tong.

Then cook the soba noodles according to the package instructions. Make sure not to overcook, as soba noodles can become soft quickly.

Once the noodles are cooked, drain them in a sieve and rinse them thoroughly under cold running water for both hot and cold dishes. When it becomes cool enough to touch, gently rub the noodles with your hand as you rinse them to remove excess starch that was released during cooking. This step is important! It keeps the noodles from becoming gummy and gives them a clean texture.

For hot dishes, immediately reheat the noodles by dipping them back into boiling water or pouring hot water over the noodles in a sieve.

Drain well and use them in your favorite dishes!

Tips for the Best Cols Soba Salad

Don't overcook the noodles - slightly firm noodles hold up better in the salad.
Rinse thoroughly - this is key for that light, crisp, refreshing texture.
Drain well - excess water can dilute the dressing.
Toss just before serving - keeps everything fresh and crisp.
Balance the dressing - aim for a mix of salty, tangy, and slightly sweet

What to Serve with Cold Soba Noodle Salad

You can enjoy this cold soba noodle salad as is for a light meal or make it a satiating meal with the addition of sides and soup. Enjoy it as you feel like on that day!

For a balanced meal, you can serve it with:

Add Sunomono Cucumber Salad to make it a cooling meal on a hot day.
A warm bowl of soup, like Kabocha Squash Miso Soup and Creamy Shio Koji Roasted Tomato Soup, for a little comfort.
A protein such as Shio Koji Chicken or Shio Koji Salmon to make it a satiating meal.

You can make it into a simple Japanese-style meal at home by following the ichiju sansai principle: rice, soup, one main dish, and a couple of small sides. Cold soba salad fits beautifully in place of rice.

Soba Salad Dressing Variations

You can also jazz up the flavor with different dressings.

Toss the salad in sesame and mayo-based dressing for a creamy, nutty flavor.
Check out the peanut dressing version for Peanut Sauce Cold Soba Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce for a rich, creamy version.
Add a squeeze of yuzu juice to brighten the salad.

Cold soba noodle salad recipe with edamame cilantro sesame seeds and fresh vegetables.

Storage and Make Ahead

Cold soba salad is best enjoyed fresh, but you can prepare parts of it ahead of time.

Make the dressing ahead and store it separately until ready to serve.
Cut vegetables ahead of time and store them separately.

When it's time to serve, you can just toss everything together and serve! Adjust the seasoning if needed.

Variations

This salad is easy to customize with your favorite vegetables and proteins, depending on what you have on hand. Here are some fun ingredient ideas:

Protein: tofu, grilled chicken, grilled shrimp, hard-boiled eggs, and canned tuna.
Vegetables: cucumbers, bell peppers, broccoli, asparagus, radish, snap peas, and avocado.
Fruits: mangoes, oranges, and pineapples.
Nuts: cashews and pine nuts.
Herbs: basil, chives, and mint.

FAQ

What are soba noodles made of?

Soba noodles are traditionally made from buckwheat flour, but are usually blended with wheat flour.

Can I use other noodles?

Yes, of course! You can also use somen, ramen, udon, or rice noodles. The texture and flavor will be slightly different.