Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad

A bowl of crunchy Asian ramen noodle salad with cashews, edamame, bright coloured vegetables like cabbage, carrot, green onion and bell pepper. There is another bowl of salad in the background.

5 from 1 vote

The best crunchy ramen noodle salad with noodles, red and green cabbage and plenty of bright colours, flavours and texture! Serve as a tasty side dish or pair with your choice of protein for a main dish.

Prep Time15

Cook Time0

Total Time15

Course: Salad

Cuisine: Asian

Diet: Vegan

Servings:

Author: Deryn Macey

Ingredients

For the Ramen Noodle Salad

4 cups green cabbage finely shredded (about ½ a small head, 250 g)
4 cups purple cabbage finely shredded (about ½ a small head, 250 g)
1 red bell pepper thinly sliced (130 g)
1 large carrot grated (95 g/1.5 cup)
1 cup sugar snap peas chopped (115 g)
2 cups cooked edamame 285 g
6 green onions thinly sliced
1-2 pkgs. dry ramen noodles discard flavor packets* (115 g)
½ cup roasted cashews or peanuts 75 g

For the Sesame Dressing

¼ cup sesame oil 60 mL
2 tbsp olive oil 30 mL
¼ cup rice wine vinegar 60 mL
2 tbsp maple syrup 30 mL
1 tbsp tahini 15 g
1 ½ tsp white or yellow miso paste
2 cloves garlic grated
1 tsp grated ginger or ½ tsp ginger powder
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In a large bowl, add sesame oil, olive oil, vinegar, tahini, maple syrup, garlic and ginger. Season with salt and pepper, then whisk well to combine into a smooth consistency. If you're making the dressing ahead of time, whisk it up in a small bowl or storage container.
To the bowl with the dressing, add cabbage, peppers, carrots, snap peas, edamame, cashews and half the green onions. Season with salt and pepper.
Using your hands, break apart the ramen noodles into the bowl. Add the dressing if you didn't mix it up in the salad bowl. Toss well to combine. Note that if you're making the salad in advance to reserve the noodles until just before serving.
Serve topped with the remaining green onions and toasted white or black sesame seeds, if you like.

Notes

*You can use 1 or 2 packs of instant ramen noodles. If you want it to be more like coleslaw with a bit of crunch, use one pack, if you want more noodles, crunch and bulk, use two! Either way, you can start with one and always add the second.

Dressing can be made 1-2 days ahead of time. If you are making this salad ahead of time, add and toss the noodles right before serving so they stay crunchy.

For shredding the cabbage, a mandoline is great for this or the shredding attachment on a food processor. I like a mandoline for this salad. If you're tight on time, you can buy equal volume of pre-shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix at your grocery store.

For a super quick and easy ramen cabbage salad, use 1 bag of prepared coleslaw mix, 1-2 packages of ramen noodles and the dressing recipe.

Substitute sunflower seeds for the nuts if you need a nut-free recipe. If you only have one variety of cabbage, that's ok.

Nutrition