This Cold Soba Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce is a healthy gluten-free and vegan recipe that is easy to make. It’s loaded with soba noodles, cucumber, carrots and red cabbage and topped off with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.

cold soba noodle salad in a bowl with wood chopsticks

What Are Soba Noodles?

Soba noodles are a variety of Japanese noodles made from buckwheat flour, which has an earthy and slightly nutty flavour. While many Asian noodle dishes like Pad Thai and Singapore Noodles are made with rice noodles, Soba noodles are a great alternative to use in salads, stir-fries or soup. My favourite way to enjoy soba noodles is in salads.

Are Soba Noodles Gluten-Free?

Contrary to having “wheat” in its name, buckwheat is entirely gluten-free. It’s in fact, not even a grain. Buckwheat is considered a seed.  It’s also extremely nutritious and high in vitamins and minerals like magnesium, folate and vitamin B.

Important tip! Many soba noodles you’ll see in stores are NOT 100% buckwheat. Some contain a mix of regular wheat and buckwheat, so these noodles are not gluten-free. Make sure to check the label if they are 100% buckwheat noodles or not.

Cold Soba Noodle Salad Ingredients

ingredients for a cold soba noodle salad
  • Soba Noodles: These noodles form the hearty base of the salad, providing a nutty and earthy flavor.
  • Cucumber: Adds a refreshing, crisp texture that complements the noodles perfectly.
  • Purple Cabbage: Provides a nutrient-packed crunch and vibrant color to the salad.
  • Carrots: Contributes a sweet and crunchy element, balancing the flavors.
  • Scallions (Green Onion): Offers a subtle sharpness and freshness to the mix.
  • Sesame Seeds: These add a nutty, flavorful crunch that enhances the overall taste.
  • Cilantro: Adds a burst of fresh, citrusy flavor that elevates the dish

*Please note this is just a recipe overview. The Full recipe and instructions can be found below in the recipe card.

How to make a cold soba noodle salad

Step 1

Prepare the peanut butter sauce by mixing all the sauce ingredients together in a mixing bowl until smooth and creamy. (If the sauce is too thick you can add a splash of warm water to thin it out.)

  • A mixing bowl with peanut butter, soy sauce and sambal oelek in it
  • A mixing bowl of Thai peanut sauce

Step 2

Cook the soba noodles according to the package directions. Add the soba noodles to a large bowl with the vegetables. Add the sauce to the salad and mix together to combine. .

  • soba noodles, cabbage, carrots, cucumber, scallions and sesame seeds in a mixing bowl
  • soba noodle salad mixed together in a mixing bowl

Step 3

Taste and adjust any seasoning if needed. You can optionally top off this salad with more sesame seeds and fresh cilantro before serving.

  • soba noodle salad in a serving bowl
  • two bowls of cold soba noodle salad topped with cilantro and sesame seeds

Ways To Modify Soba Noodle Salad

Peanut-Free Version

For those with peanut allergies or who prefer to avoid peanuts, you can easily modify the sauce:

  • Sunflower Seed Butter Sauce: Replace the peanut butter with sunflower seed butter for a nutty flavor without the peanuts. Combine sunflower seed butter, tamari, rice vinegar, maple syrup, and sesame oil to create a creamy and delicious sauce.
  • Tahini Sauce: Use tahini (sesame seed paste) instead of peanut butter. Mix tahini with tamari, rice vinegar, a bit of honey or maple syrup, and water to thin it out, if needed. This will give the salad a rich, creamy texture with a hint of sesame flavor.

High-Protein Version

Boost the protein content of your soba noodle salad to make it a more substantial meal:

  • Add Grilled Chicken or Tofu: Top your salad with grilled chicken breast or marinated tofu cubes. Both options add a significant protein boost while maintaining the dish’s light and refreshing nature.
  • Edamame and Chickpeas: Toss in a handful of shelled edamame and roasted chickpeas. These plant-based protein sources are not only nutritious but also add an extra layer of texture and flavor to the salad.

Veggie-Packed Version

Enhance the nutritional value and make the salad even more colorful and flavorful:

  • Extra Vegetables: Add thinly sliced bell peppers, julienned radishes, and snap peas to increase the vegetable content. These additions provide a variety of textures and a vibrant appearance.
  • Leafy Greens: Mix in a handful of baby spinach or arugula. These greens add a fresh, peppery taste and a boost of vitamins and minerals.

How To Store

Store this soba noodle salad in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. This salad stores well after it’s been dressed, but can also be stored separately from the peanut sauce.

Tips for Making Soba oNodle Salad

  • Cut vegetables evenly: For the best texture and presentation, cut all your vegetables uniformly. Whether you spiralize, shred, or slice them, consistent sizes ensure even distribution and a pleasing bite.
  • Add more veggies: Feel free to change or add any vegtables you love to this soba noodle salad! I like to add some edamame beans for protein.
  • Use toasted sesame seeds. Toasted sesame seeds will have much more flavour than raw sesame seeds. If you only have raw sesame seeds you can lightly toast them before adding them to the salad.
  • If your peanut sauce is too thick, add a touch more water to thin it so it can be mixed in the salad more easily.
  • Prevent Soggy Noodles: To maintain the ideal texture, keep the noodles and sauce separate until just before serving. Toss them together when ready to eat to avoid the noodles absorbing too much sauce and becoming soggy.

Soba noodle salad FAQ

Can I make this recipe with another type of noodles?

Yes! If you prefer you can use rice noodles or vermicelli to make this chilled salad.

Can I prepare soba noodle salad ahead of time?

Yes! This cold soba noodle salad is fantastic to prepare ahead of time for dinner, a barbeque or a potluck since it will keep well for hours. I recommend dressing it right before serving, but it’s still great even if it’s been dressed a couple of hours before serving.

Are soba noodles good for you?

Yes. Soba noodles are made from buckwheat which contains fibre, protein and essential vitamins.

What pairs well with soba?

All the vegetables in this salad pair well with soba noodles, but if you’d like to add anything else to this salad try edamame, bok choy, broccoli, tofu or mushrooms.

More noodle recipes to try

If you tried this Cold Soba Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more deliciousness!

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cold soba noodle salad in a bowl with wood chopsticks

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Jessica Hoffman
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Main
  • Method: Cook
  • Cuisine: Asian
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe

Description

This Soba Noodle Salad with Spicy Peanut Sauce is easy to make and a healthy meal option! 

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 8 ounces soba noodles
  • 1/2 cucumber, spiralized or cut into strips
  • 1 cup cabbage, shredded
  • 1 large carrot, sliced or shredded
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 3 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
  • Cilantro to top (optional)

Spicy Peanut Sauce

Optional add-ins: 

  • Edamame beans
  • Tofu

Instructions

  1. Cook the noodles according to package directions.
  2. While the noodles cook, prepare the peanut sauce by mixing all the sauce ingredients together. 
  3. Once the noodles are cooked, rinse them under room temperature water to slightly cool them down slightly, then add them to a mixing bowl with the rest of the salad ingredients. 
  4. Toss the soba noodle salad and peanut sauce together until combined.
  5. Optionally top with some extra sesame seeds, green onions and cilantro. 

Notes

Try adding any veggies you love to this salad

Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
  • Calories: 300
  • Sugar: 4g
  • Fat: 11g
  • Carbohydrates: 45g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 11g