Cold Ramen Noodle Salad

3.50 from 2 votes

Crunchy vegetables and a savory sesame-soy sauce combine with Instant ramen in this nutritious and flavorful chilled salad.

Prep Time5

Cook Time25

Chill Time (Optional)1

Total Time30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Vegetarian

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: servings

Calories: 579kcal

Cook the ramen noodles according to package instructions, but do not add the seasoning packets! Drain and rinse under cool running water to quickly chill the noodles. Toss with a drizzle of toasted sesame oil and set aside.
To make the sesame-cashew crunch, heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add the toasted sesame oil, cashews, and sesame seeds. Toast for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden.
Stir in the honey and a pinch of salt. Reduce heat to medium-low so that it is only gently bubbling. Simmer for just another minute. Use a spatula to spread the cashews and sesame seeds onto a parchment or wax paper lined plate in a thin layer. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes. This makes it easier to crumble. *See note #4*
Whisk together the sesame soy dressing ingredients in a small jar or bowl. Taste the dressing and adjust the ingredients to taste, adding salt as needed.
To make one large salad: Assemble the salad in a large bowl. Toss the ramen noodles with the dressing, then stir in the shredded cabbage, carrots, edamame, green onions, crumbled sesame-cashew crunch, and optional sriracha. Cover and chill for an hour before serving. (When I make this recipe for myself I just eat it immediately without chilling)
To make mason jar salads: Divide the ingredients between 4 quart-sized mason jars and layer bottom to top: dressing, cabbage, carrots, edamame, noodles, green onions, and sesame crunch topping. Shake the jars to toss the salad before eating.

Instant ramen: Packets of Instant ramen are usually 3 ounces, so you will need 4 packets. Feel free to use fresh ramen noodles or plain ramen noodles (not sold with seasoning) in place of Instant ramen packets.
Cabbage: Savoy cabbage is more tender than red/green cabbage while still being durable enough to make a good meal prep salad. Feel free to use different varieties of cabbage if savoy isn't available, or just use a coleslaw blend to cut down prep time.
Black vinegar: Also called sweetened vinegar. If not available at your grocery store, it should be at International markets or an Asian grocery store.
The sesame crunch is sticky and one reader noted that they had trouble removing it from a plate after refrigerating. You can place it on wax paper or lightly oil the container before refrigerating, as needed.
Storage: Both the large salad and the mason jar salads keep for up to 4 days in the fridge.
Nutrition calculations are an estimation and vary based on ingredients used.