Packed with crunchy veggies, edamame, rice noodles and a scrumptious garlicky, gingery peanut-lime dressing, this Thai Peanut Noodle Salad recipe is make ahead ready and simple to pull together! vegan + gluten free
Discovering Thai Flavors
When I transitioned to a vegetarian way of eating, it opened up a whole new world of flavors I hadn’t previously known. Thai flavors quickly rose to the top of my list of favorites. What I love about Thai food is that it’s fresh, umami packed and is easily plant focused.
While the crunchy veggies and slurpy noodles shine in this cold peanut noodle recipe, it’s the totally mouthwatering Thai peanut salad dressing/sauce that ties the textures and flavors together. The dressing is garlicky, gingery, peanutty, with just a touch of sweet and has that mouthwatering umami I’m forever after.
Ingredients for this Peanut Rice Noodle Salad
Load up on the most colorful and favorite Thai inspired veggies. Thin or wide rice noodles (rice vermicelli or rice stick noodles) work beautifully for this salad.
For the Salad:
- Rice Noodles or Rice Sticks – thin
- Frozen Edamame
- Cabbage – purple and green for all the color
- Carrots
- Bell Pepper
- Sugar Snap or Snow Peas
- Green Onions
- Cashews
- Sesame Oil
- Fresh Herbs – Cilantro, Thai Basil, Mint (optional)
For the Thai Peanut Dressing:
The Thai peanut salad dressing is easily whipped up in a food processor. Thin with water as needed, but not too much or the dressing won’t stick to the noodles and veggies.
- Peanut Butter
- Lime Juice
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Water
- Maple Syrup or Honey
- Tamari – or soy sauce
- Sriracha or Red Pepper Flakes
How to Make Thai Peanut Noodle Salad
This Asian peanut noodle salad comes together in about 30 minutes. And although these cold peanut noodles can hang out for days in the fridge, the fats in the peanut butter are softest at room temperature. Toss the salad with the Thai peanut salad dressing just before serving for the best texture.
- First, boil the edamame, then use its cooking water to soak the noodles. Soak the noodles until tender, not mushy. About six minutes for thin stick noodles.
- Second, toast the cashews. Allow to cool then chop.
- Third, prepare the veggies by chopping and using a Julienne peeler for the carrots. Chop the herbs.
- Continuing, whip up the Thai peanut lime dressing in a food processor.
- Last, layer the ingredients in a large bowl and toss with the dressing.
If sharing after the salad has been chilled, allow the salad to set at room temperature for about 30 minutes so the fats in the dressing can soften. Or, dive right in! Either way this salad is quite fabulous.
A Few Recipe Notes
- This recipe calls for Tamari in the Thai peanut dressing, which is naturally gluten free. However soy sauce can be used if desired.
- For a spicier Thai peanut noodle salad, share with Sriracha on the side or include up to three teaspoons in the dressing.
- Depending on how much dressing you like on the salad, you may have some peanut sauce left over. It stores beautifully for weeks in the fridge. I’ve used it as a dipping sauce for summer rolls, tossed it into curry and have poured it over these Thai Lentil Lettuce Wraps.
- When soaking the rice noodles, keep an eye on them as they can go from perfection to mush quickly. The Kitchn shares helpful tips on soaking rice noodles.
- This Thai noodle recipe calls for a hefty portion of herbs such as cilantro, Thai basil and mint. They add so much freshness to the salad. If you have particular (ie: picky) eaters in your house, share the herbs on the side.
More Thai Inspired Recipes to Love
- Thai Ginger and Garlic Noodle Bowls
- Spicy Peanut Tofu Bowl with Coconut Forbidden Rice
- Sweet Potato ‘Noodle’ Pad Thai – by Foolproof Living
- Thai Vegetable Fried Rice with Cashews
- Vegetarian Pad Thai (Instant Pot) – by Kitchen Confidant
- Sesame Ginger Noodle Salad with Cashews
- Thai Roasted Carrot and Beet Soup – by Floating Kitchen
Thai Peanut Noodle Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 1/2 C (65g) Cashews or peanuts
- 1 C (140g) Edamame frozen
- 4 oz (110g) Rice Stick Noodles
- 1-2 tsp Sesame Oil optional, *see note
- 1 1/2 C (155g) Red or Yellow Bell Pepper about 1 large, I like to mix red and yellow
- 1 C (45g) Carrots shredded
- 3 C (190g) Cabbage green and purple mixed, shredded
- 1 C (100g) Sugar Snap Peas or snow peas, sliced into bite size pieces on the bias
- 1/2 C (30g) Green Onions sliced thin on the bias
- Herbs such as Thai basil, mint and cilantro use to taste - I like a combo of all three, fine chop about 4 Tbs. Use whole leaves to garnish.
For the Dressing (makes about 1 C (260g))
Instructions
For the Salad
- Preheat oven to 350F (180C) and toast the cashews for 8-9 minutes, or until golden and fragrant. Set aside to cool. Rough chop. Set aside 2 Tbs for garnish.
- Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Once boiling add the frozen edamame. Set a timer for five minutes and cook the edamame on high heat. The water should return to a boil. Set a strainer inside a large bowl to retain the water from the edamame. After 5-6 minutes of cooking and the edamame is tender, strain the edamame reserving the water in a large bowl. Rinse the edamame under cool running water. Set the edamame aside.
- Working quickly, into the reserved water, add the rice noodles. Allow the noodles to soak for 4-6 minutes in the previously boiled edamame water. Loosen with a fork and check on them every few minutes. They should be tender, not mushy, when ready. Strain and rinse with cold running water, tossing, until the water runs clear. Wipe the bowl dry and add the rice noodles to the bowl. Drizzle with sesame oil if using and toss. Otherwise, add the edamame to the rice noodles.
- To the mixing bowl add the cashews, peppers, carrots, cabbage, peas, onions and herbs. Set in the refrigerator while making the dressing.
For the Dressing
- Into the bowl of a food processor, add the ginger, garlic, peanut butter, lime, Tamari, maple and Sriracha. With the processor running drizzle in a few Tbs of hot water. Process until smooth. Check consistency. The dressing needs to be thick enough to stick to the noodles and veggies. If too thin, it'll sink to the bottom of the bowl. Add up to two more Tbs of water if desired.
To Assemble
- Pour the dressing over the salad, holding out about 1/4 C. Toss salad throughly so that all the noodles and veggies are covered. Add additional dressing if desired. Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle additional herbs and 2 Tbs of cashews over the top. Serve with lime wedges and Sriracha.
- Thai Peanut Salad holds well in the fridge for up to three days. If desired, set out at room temperature at least 30 minutes prior to serving to allow the fats to soften.
It’s Winter here in Australia, this morning was a chilly 55 degrees F, so when I mentioned a salad for dinner I had a few weird looks.
This dish has it all. Appearance, texture and wow, the taste.
I’ve been told by all not to lose this recipe.
Hooray, David! Thank you for coming back, leaving a note and your five star review! So happy to hear you’re enjoying the recipe!
Wonderful recipe. I have never used rice noodles but I’m always looking for different vegetarian options. I only had broccoli and shitake mushrooms but the flavor was fabulous. I used peanuts but might try almonds next time and there will be a next time. Thank you.
Hi Marilyn! Thank you for your note and five star review! I love the subs of broccoli and shitake. Thank you for your tips!
My meat and potatoes brother who is un-adventuresome with new tastes gobbled this up at a family gathering and went for seconds. This is one of those go to and repeat dishes to impress and make for friends and family. Lots of chopping but the results are so worth it! Thank you!!
P.s. I used the mung bean glass noodles they were great too
OMG! I love this, Donna! Thank you for your note, tip on the mung bean noodles and five star review. SO happy to hear you enjoyed the salad (and your brother too!)! Worth the chopping indeed!
For some reason, this recipe was outside of my wheelhouse. I didn’t have several of the ingredients on hand (enter:trip to the grocery store), I had never used rice noodles in this wvay (only in spring rolls) and I felt like there were a lot of prep steps and a ton of cleanup afterwards- but all that being said, it’s a fresh and yummy salad with a nice amount of crunch and spot on Asian flavor. I ended up with a HUGE bowl of the finished product – probably because I decided to just go ahead and use the whole 6oz pack of rice noodles instead of having those pesky two oz left in my pantry (🙄). I did increase the other ingredients to compensate and now I’ll be enjoying this treat all week! Thanks for another creative recipe Traci! Keep them coming!
So happy to read your note Sue, and in the end, it was worth the effort! And I guess the tradeoff is because it makes so much, there’s no mess to clean up for at least a few more nights :D The package of noodles I use is right at 8oz – so I just split it and have another pack of noodle for my next noodle making adventure. I’ve linked it above if needed. Thank you again for coming back, rating and leaving a note for us Sue!
Very good written yummy
So happy to hear Voyance! Thank you for coming back and leaving a note.
Yes ! Hooked before I even noticed it’s 30 minutes only week dinner :-)
Love hearing this! LMK if you give the reicp a gooo!
We made a version of this last night only with soba noodles and fresh spinach instead of cabbage. Such a great dressing recipe. Thanks Traci!
Hi Monica! Thank you for your note and tips on Soba (yummm!!) and fresh spinach! Hooray for peanut dressing! So happy to hear!
This was great. Made it exactly as called for except I forgot to get the nuts when I went shopping. I am sure it’s even better. My other half made appropriate noises in appreciation. Will be making this again as we head into the hottest part of the summer.
Hahhaaa!! Thank you for that Michelle! Much needed :D So happy to hear!
The kids will be home this weekend and nothing would make them happier than to see this on the menu! Wow! This is a real treat – and is there anything better than Thai peanut dressing? Pinned, my friend!
Thhhhank you Annie! I hope you and your kiddos love it (sounds like a fun weekend ahead!)! And I’m with you on the peanut dressing… just slather it on everything! :D
This looks amazing, Traci! I love dishes like this – full of colorful, healthy veggies but filling as well – and peanut sauce with cold noodles is just delicious. I also love that you can make a big batch of this and use the left overs for lunch the next couple of days. Looking forward to trying this.
I’m with you Geraldine… the more veggies I can pack in, the better! And that CRUNCH! lol. It’s perfect for eating for daaays! LMK if you give it a go Geraldine!
I’m making this for my next girlfriend’s luncheon Traci! I know they’ll all love it! Love the combo of veggies. Delicious work!
Ohhh yess! I hope y’all enjoy it Mary Ann! Thank youuu!
Such vibrant colors and flavors just beg to be eaten in this salad-just perfect for these hot days! I’ve got a bumper crop of Thai basil this year. Never had much luck growing it but I tried the Siam Queen variety this year and it has made all the difference. Enjoy your weekend, Traci!
Sooo good for hot days, Jean! A bumper of Thai Basil?! That is amazing! Like you I had trouble growing it for years, then one year, my persistence paid off and I got a good crop of it! It is SO flavorful. I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for Siam Queen when I plant again. Thank you for your tip, Jean!
Mmm…looks so good, Traci! I’ve made noodles a couple times these past two weeks, too. When it’s really hot, I love having cold noodle salad for dinner. And it’s a great way to get in lots of veggies! Can’t wait to try your dressing with the ginger in there. YUM!
Aren’t they soooo good, Liz! And such a delicious way to enjoy a cold dinner when it’s so dang hot out! I absolutely love the ginger in this dressing – it’s subtly punchy.
This salad is perfection! Everything about it is crazy good… From the peanut sauce to the noodles to all the crispy veggies, the herbs… to, mmmm, the cashews…. Love me some cashews! I am already sharing this recipe with others. Thank you for yet another remarkable recipe, Trace!
SO happy you like the salad Jen! I knew you’d be a fan of the peanut sauce – mmmm!