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Fresh Cold Sesame Chicken Noodle Salad

fresh cold sesame chicken noodle salad - featured image
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A refreshing and easy cold noodle salad with shredded chicken, crunchy veggies, and a nutty sesame dressing, perfect for hot summer nights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces dried thin egg noodles or somen noodles (substitute with spaghetti if needed)
  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (rotisserie chicken recommended)
  • 1 medium cucumber, julienned or thinly sliced
  • 3 scallions, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce (low-sodium preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce or sriracha

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of egg noodles and cook according to package instructions (about 3 to 4 minutes) until al dente. Drain immediately and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the noodles. Toss gently with a little sesame oil to prevent sticking.
  2. While noodles cook, shred 2 cups of cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Julienne or thinly slice 1 cucumber and 3 scallions. Roughly chop 1/4 cup cilantro if using. Set aside.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, and 1 minced garlic clove. Add 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce if desired. Taste and adjust sweetness or acidity as preferred.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled noodles, shredded chicken, cucumber, scallions, and cilantro. Pour the dressing over the top and toss gently but thoroughly until everything is evenly coated.
  5. Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld and keep it refreshingly cold. Before serving, sprinkle 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds over the salad.

Notes

Do not overcook noodles; rinse immediately under cold water to stop cooking and cool. Use toasted sesame oil for best flavor. Chill salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to meld flavors. For gluten-free, substitute rice noodles and tamari for soy sauce. Vegetarian option by replacing chicken with tofu or edamame. Toss gently before serving if salad sits for a while to refresh flavors.

Nutrition

Keywords: cold noodle salad, sesame chicken salad, summer salad, easy dinner, healthy salad, rotisserie chicken recipe, sesame dressing

Find it online: https://sofiaspice.com/fresh-cold-sesame-chicken-noodle-salad-easy-recipe-for-hot-summer-nights/