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    Home » Recipes » Pasta Recipes

    Published: Sep 8, 2022 · Modified: Aug 9, 2023 by Paula Montenegro · Income from ads and affiliates

    Sesame Soba Noodle Salad

    Jump to Recipe
    Sesame noodle salad, long pin with text
    White plate of soba noodle salad with green beans, wooden table, image with text
    Image collage with text, soba noodle salad on white plate, orange chopsticks
    Orange chopsticks holding soba noodle salad, image with text

    This is our favorite cold noodle salad with Asian flavors. The sesame oil mayonnaise is a great recipe on its own. It becomes epic when mixed with soba noodles, crunchy shallots, and green beans. 

    Table of Contents Open
    Why we love it
    What are soba noodles?
    How to make sesame mayonnaise
    Toppings
    Shortcut
    Make-ahead
    Variations
    Related recipes you might like:
    Sesame Soba Noodle Salad
    On a wooden table brown and white plates with noodle salad, green beans and shallots.


    I don't make much Asian food, but I wanted to dip my toes further after making the Szechuan Pork with Carrots, so I thought this sesame recipe with chewy buckwheat noodles was a great compromise: some mayo, some noodles, and some veggies. 

    Why we love it

    • It keeps for a day or two in the fridge after being assembled.
    • Mayonnaise: it can be made a few days ahead. 
    • Eat this noodle salad at room temperature or cold, so it almost qualifies as a pasta salad.
    • Versatile: it's a great option for a light dinner or as a cold salad on a hot Summer day. And they're great the next day, so don't worry about leftovers.
    Orange chopsticks with soba noodles, blurred plate with noodle salad in background.

    What are soba noodles?

    They are Japanese noodles. Soba means buckwheat in their language. 

    And they are thin noodles, brownish grey (image below), that might have wheat flour also among the ingredients. They have an earthy, nutty flavor and are slightly slimy, in a good way. 

    Turns out that buckwheat flour is gluten-free despite its name. So they are a great alternative for celiacs. I had used this flour before for the Peanut Butter Bread and loved it. 

    And besides, they come in the neatest, prettiest bundles ever, all tied with a cute checkered paper – how can you not want to buy them?

    Find them at Asian supermarkets and online as soba noodles or Japanese buckwheat noodles.

    Three individual portions of raw soba noodles on a wooden table.

    How to make sesame mayonnaise

    Disclaimer: consult a doctor before eating mayonnaise with raw egg, especially if pregnant or giving it to children. 

    Use pasteurized eggs if you can't get fresh ones from a reliable source. Or use this store-bought mayonnaise shortcut.

    The homemade mayo here makes this dish come together. It was such an amazingly delicious discovery! I had made mayo many times before but had never gotten past adding some garlic. 

    This recipe has that golden glory, sesame oil, and unique and fantastic flavor. I am such a huge fan! 

    It's made in a food processor or with an immersion blender. The only tip is to add the oil slowly. The rest takes care of itself.

    Grainy mustard and eggs in the bowl of a food processor. Close up image.

    Combine all spices into a large bowl and mix thoroughly into lean ground beef

    Adding dark sesame oil from a metal measuring cup on feed tube of food processor.

    Form into ball shape with your hands

    White bowl with brownish mayonnaise on a wooden table.

    Toppings

    • Green onions and shallots: the first are added fresh, chopped, and the latter is fried, creating contrast in flavor and texture. They add a crunch that complements the smooth dressing and the slippery pasta. 
    • Sesame seeds: of course, this whole dish is ended with some seeds, and I like to lightly toast them first. Be very careful because they burn in an instant. 
    Black skillet with green beans and sliced shallots in oil.

    Shortcut

    • Mayonnaise: instead of making the sesame mayo from scratch, add some sesame oil, mustard, and soy sauce to store-bought mayonnaise. It will also last longer. 
    • Topping: use frozen veggies and not just green beans. Peas, green or red peppers or broccoli.
    Soba noodle salad with green beans and shallots on white plate, close-up image.

    Make-ahead

    • The mayonnaise can be made a day or two ahead. It may last longer, and that depends entirely on the freshness of the eggs. Please note that we encourage you to ask a physician or nutritional expert if you have any doubts. 
    • The noodles mixed with the mayo last for two days in the fridge. 
    • The green beans can be cooked ahead of time, they last several days in the refrigerator. If using frozen, it will only take minutes to defrost them in boiling water. 

    Variations

    • Citrus: add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice before mixing the soba salad.
    • Add a protein: like tofu, pork or chicken, to make it heartier.
    • Use a different vegetable: instead of green beans, use broccoli or broccolini, mushrooms, red cabbage, bell peppers, snap peas, edamame beans, purple cabbage or green onions. Or a mix. Use frozen instead of fresh veggies for a quicker dish.
    • Spice it up: add finely chopped hot peppers or sprinkle red pepper flakes.
    • Fresh herbs: like shiso or mitsuba, or even regular parsley or fresh cilantro can be sprinkled on top.
    White plate with noodle salad with green beans, wooden table, colorful bowls in background.

    Related recipes you might like:

    • White plate with fusilli pasta, carrots, bacon and chopped parsley.
      Pasta with Carrots
    • Close up of baked pasta frittata with parsley in a cast iron skillet on a beige surface.
      Pasta Frittata
    • Cauliflower Pesto Sauce
    • white bowl with broccoli corn harissa pasta bowl
      Spicy Broccoli Corn Pasta

    Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe and loved it and if you had issues so we can troubleshoot together. I love to hear what you think, always. Thanks for being here. It's much appreciated.
    You might also consider subscribing to our FREE email series to Boost your Home Baking Skills! And our regular newsletter.
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    Top view of white plate with soba noodle green bean salad on a wooden table.

    Sesame Soba Noodle Salad

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    This is my favorite cold noodle salad with Asian flavors. The sesame oil mayonnaise is a great recipe on its own. It becomes epic when mixed with soba noodles, crunchy shallots, and green beans.

    Disclaimer: consult a doctor before eating mayonnaise with raw egg, especially if pregnant or giving it to children. 

    • Total Time: 40 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings

    Ingredients

    Units

    For the sesame mayonnaise:

    Use pasteurized eggs if you can't get very fresh ones from a reliable source. Or use this store-bought mayonnaise shortcut.

    • 1 egg
    • 2 egg yolks
    • 2 ½ tablespoons rice vinegar
    • 2 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
    • 3 tablespoons good mustard (I used Maille ancient mustard)
    • ¼ cup toasted sesame oil
    • 1 cup olive oil
    • 1 ½ cups sunflower oil
    • 1 teaspoon sriracha or similar

    For the noodle salad:

    • ½ cup sesame mayonnaise (recipe above)
    • 4 portions of soba noodles
    • ¼ cup canola or peanut oil
    • 2 cups green beans, cooked, cut into pieces (defrost if using frozen)
    • 1 large shallot, thinly sliced
    • ½ cup thinly sliced green onion
    • Sesame seeds, to garnish

    Instructions

    For the sesame mayonnaise:

    1. Put egg, yolks, vinegar, soy sauce and mustard in the bowl of a food processor and process 1 minute. Or use a bowl and an immersion blender.
    2. With the machine on the lowest speed, start adding the sesame oil in a very thin stream, followed by the olive oil in the same way.
    3. Finally add the sunflower oil, gradually, but you don’t need to be so careful since the mayonnaise will have emulsified by now.
    4. Add sriracha and taste. Adjust seasonings accordingly.
    5. Keep refrigerated.
    6. Makes about 2 ½ cups.

    For the noodle salad:

    1. Cook noodles in abundant salted water according to package directions. I like them al dente, as they can turn quite soft if cooked too much, like regular pasta. 
    2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet and add shallots and green beans.
    3. Cook for a few minutes until most shallots are crispy. Transfer to a paper towel to drain while preparing the noodles.
    4. Rinse noodles under cold water and transfer to a bowl, or to the same pot where you cooked them.
    5. Add the mayonnaise and mix. Taste and adjust to your personal palate.
    6. Transfer to a serving platter, and top with green beans, shallots, green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

    Notes

    • Mayonnaise: instead of making the sesame mayo from scratch, add some sesame oil, mustard, and soy sauce to store-bought mayonnaise. It will also last longer. The homemade version should be eaten in the first few days after making it. You can make half the recipe (easier if you use an immersion blender).
    • Make ahead: 
      Mayonnaise: can be made a day or two ahead. It may last longer, and that depends entirely on the freshness of the eggs. Please note that we encourage you to ask a physician or nutritional expert if you have any doubts. 
      Noodles:
       last for two days in the fridge after being mixed with the sesame mayonnaise. 
      Green beans: can be cooked ahead of time, and last several days in the refrigerator. If using frozen, it will only take minutes to defrost them in boiling water. 
    • Use a different vegetable: instead of green beans, use broccoli or broccolini, mushrooms or red bell pepper. Or a mix.
    • Author: Paula Montenegro
    • Prep Time: 25 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Category: Pasta
    • Method: Cooking
    • Cuisine: International

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: ¼
    • Calories: 525
    • Sugar: 2.3 g
    • Sodium: 630.8 mg
    • Fat: 35.3 g
    • Carbohydrates: 47.4 g
    • Fiber: 1.7 g
    • Protein: 9.7 g
    • Cholesterol: 11.6 mg

    Keywords: sesame soba noodles

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @vintagekitchenblog on Instagram and hashtag it #vintagekitchenblog

    Adapted from The Silver Palate Cookbook, by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins

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    About Paula Montenegro

    I'm Paula, a baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe developer, sharing the best ones here with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

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    1. Nik Sharma says

      September 18, 2013 at 6:25 pm

      I love this recipe, your sesame mayonnaise sounds delicious with the noodles.

      Reply
    2. laurasmess says

      September 17, 2013 at 4:01 am

      I've never been big on Asian food but that sesame mayonnaise sounds divine. Love your photos. The noodles actually look calming, cool and delicious (that sounds weird but it's true!). Thanks for this recipe lovely (loved the story, haha! I think I need to try curried chicken chow fan if it's good enough to eat weekly!) xxx

      Reply
    3. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says

      September 16, 2013 at 12:25 am

      Paula,
      This post totally made me smile. . loved the story. . and love the relationship you have with your local Chinese take out place! 🙂 Awesome.
      Can I tell you how happy I am to see this soba recipe on your blog?! 🙂 and this sesame mayonnaise??? OH MY GAWD. I must try this ASAP. omg, I seriously cannot wait to try this! yummmm!
      And yes. . be social. . 🙂 #alwaysagoodthing 😛

      Reply
    4. Laura Dembowski says

      September 15, 2013 at 7:47 pm

      I rarely eat Asian food because of the crazy high salt content, but I would love to make some of my own, as it's so tasty. This looks like a great dish to start with.

      Reply
    5. Amy (Savory Moments) says

      September 15, 2013 at 6:36 pm

      I love a nice plate or bowl of soba noodles, especially with sesame. This dish looks really tasty and pretty.

      Reply
    6. Kitchen Riffs says

      September 15, 2013 at 5:00 pm

      Fun story. And terrific recipe! I love sesame noodles, and this is a particularly nice version. Truly good stuff - thanks.

      Reply
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