Raw Vegetable Noodle Salad (Printable)

Colorful spiralized vegetables with tangy sesame-ginger dressing for a fresh, crunchy dish perfect for warm days.

# 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 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
09 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
11 - 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
12 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
13 - 1 clove garlic, minced
14 - 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
15 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes, optional

→ Garnish

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

# Directions:

01 - Spiralize zucchini, carrot, and cucumber. Thinly slice red bell pepper and shred red cabbage. Slice green onions and chop cilantro. Place all prepared vegetables in a large mixing bowl.
02 - In a separate bowl, whisk together sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, grated ginger, maple syrup, minced garlic, lime juice, and chili flakes until well combined.
03 - Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Let the salad sit for 5 to 10 minutes at room temperature to allow flavors to meld and vegetables to soften slightly.
05 - Transfer salad to a serving platter. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and chopped nuts if using. Garnish with additional cilantro. Serve immediately for optimal texture and freshness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than deciding what to order for takeout, and tastes infinitely fresher.
  • The sesame-ginger dressing is so addictive you'll find yourself drizzling it on everything for the next week.
  • Zero cooking means your kitchen stays cool and your hands stay clean, which matters more than you'd think on a busy day.
02 -
  • If you dress this salad too far ahead, the vegetables will weep and dilute everything, so assemble the dressing early but dress the vegetables no more than twenty minutes before eating.
  • Toasting your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for two minutes before sprinkling them on transforms them from background noise into something actually memorable.
03 -
  • Buy sesame seeds loose from a bulk section and toast them yourself in a dry skillet for two minutes before the first use, because pre-toasted seeds from a jar have already begun losing their magic.
  • If you're feeding people with nut allergies, skip the peanuts entirely because the sesame seeds and the dressing are nutty enough to carry the whole dish.
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