Chilled Chicken Noodle Salad (Printable version)

A cool noodle dish featuring shredded chicken, fresh veggies, and savory sesame dressing.

# Ingredient list:

→ Noodles & Protein

01 - 9 oz thin egg noodles or rice noodles
02 - 2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded (10 oz)

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
04 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
05 - 1 cucumber, deseeded and julienned
06 - 2 spring onions, sliced
07 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Sesame Dressing

08 - 3 tbsp toasted sesame oil
09 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
10 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar
11 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
12 - 1 tbsp smooth peanut butter or tahini
13 - 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
14 - 1 garlic clove, minced
15 - 1 tsp chili flakes (optional)

→ Garnish

16 - 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
17 - Lime wedges (optional)

# Step-by-step guide:

01 - Cook noodles following package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, mix shredded chicken, cooked noodles, carrot, bell pepper, cucumber, spring onions, and cilantro.
03 - Whisk together sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey or maple syrup, peanut butter or tahini, ginger, garlic, and chili flakes until smooth.
04 - Pour dressing over salad mixture and toss thoroughly to coat evenly.
05 - Transfer to serving dishes and garnish with toasted sesame seeds and lime wedges if desired.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 2 hours before serving for enhanced flavor.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in 35 minutes flat, and most of that is just boiling water.
  • The sesame dressing is addictive enough to drizzle over rice bowls or roasted vegetables all week.
  • You can prep everything in advance and toss it together right before eating, or let it sit and develop flavor.
02 -
  • Rinsing the hot noodles in cold water isn't optional—it stops them from cooking further and keeps them from turning mushy by the time you eat.
  • Toasting your own sesame seeds in a dry skillet changes the entire flavor profile of the dish; store-bought toasted seeds are decent, but fresh-toasted are incomparable.
  • If you're making this more than an hour ahead, save the dressing and toss it in just before serving, or the noodles will absorb all the liquid and dry out.
03 -
  • Toasting sesame oil in a hot pan for 30 seconds before adding it to the dressing deepens its flavor; this small step is what separates a good version from an unforgettable one.
  • If your peanut butter or tahini won't combine smoothly, add a tablespoon of the dressing liquid first and whisk it into a paste before adding the rest of the ingredients.
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