A refreshingly light glass noodle salad that is packed with fresh vegetables, tossed through slippery potato starch noodles, soy sauce and sesame oil dressing.
My love for Asian food runs deep. This is thanks to my brother, who got me onto it many many years ago and is currently living in Asia.
This glass noodle salad is inspired by Vietnamese and Thai cuisine, it’s perfect for lunch or dinner.
I normally like to emulate a meal I have eaten out by making it my version and I've got to tell you, this is yum!
It’s the perfect combination of fresh and light flavouring, whilst still being filling - there’s just no 'heavy feeling' with this vegan salad.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Light and refreshing, ridiculously easy
- Has a combination of chewy/slippery noodles with crunchy fresh vegetables
- Can be paired with many other foods or enjoyed on it’s own
- Caters for vegans and gluten free diets.
- The dressing can be adjusted.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The complete list of ingredients with measurements, can be found in the full recipe card below.
Potato starch noodles - sometimes referred to as glass noodles or cellophane noodles. These are easily found at your local Asian grocer.
These are among the best Asian noodles for salad, you have to try them, especially if you are gluten-free.
Carrots and cucumbers are an amazing combination, they will need to be julienned these by using a mandolin or julienne slicer.
Red cabbage - shred this or thinly slice. I love to use red cabbage as it gives extra crunch to this salad.
Peanuts - to save time I like to use roasted and salted peanuts from the store. However, if you have time, you could do this yourself. If using whole peanuts, crush these prior to adding them to the glass noodle salad. Peanuts add some satisfying crunch.
Bean sprouts - ensure you purchase fresh bean sprouts, these should be crunchy and juicy and not slimy.
Lime - do not substitute fresh lime juice with store-bought.
Sesame oil - is a key flavour, choose a good quality sesame oil. Do not skimp on this.
Soy sauce - ensure you select gluten-free if you need this. Please note not all soy sauces are made equally, some are saltier than others. Take this into consideration.
Coriander (cilantro) - use fresh and not dried. Chop up the stem parts into small pieces, coriander stems hold loads of flavour.
How To Make Cold Glass Noodle Salad
Step 1 - Prepare the glass noodles as per packet instructions.
Step 2 - In a mixing jug, whisk together salad dressing ingredients and set aside.
Step 3 - In a salad bowl add glass noodles and chop them up into manageable bite-sized pieces.
Step 4 - Add in all vegetables and herbs. Pour in salad dressing and toss salad until well combined. Serve cold.
Variations
Herbs - for extra flavouring, try adding in freshly chopped mint leaves.
Bean sprouts can be substituted for snow pea sprouts.
Peanuts - can be substituted with roasted and salted cashews.
Maple syrup - can be substituted with coconut sugar. Adjust quantity to suit.
Tofu - feel free to add your preferred tofu to this salad.
Sesame seeds - sprinkle this on top, a great option for additional sesame flavour.
Fresh ginger & garlic - can be grated into the dressing, or try this tahini citrus miso dressing for something different.
Glass noodles - if you are having trouble finding these, you can use rice vermicelli noodles instead.
Pro Tips
Glass noodles - I like to always undercook by one minute of what the instructions advise.
Spring onions (scallions) - cut these at a 45-degree angle for aesthetics
FAQ
Glass noodles can be referred to as cellophane noodles. They are normally made from starch and water. The starch is derived from either potato, sweet potato, yams or mung beans. They are chewy and slippery when cooked.
Related Recipes
You might also like vegan banana blossom salad with pasta. Try this juicy and fresh spicy cucumber salad without sesame oil .
If you love this recipe, you'll also love my flavorsome sticky vegan brussel sprouts.
Another noodle recipe to check out is this delicious Chinese noodles recipe. The oyster sauce can easily be swapped, creating a delish vegetarian meal packed with veggies.
Otherwise, check out this spicy vegan japchae recipe, which also uses glass noodles.
Did you make this? I'd love to know! Leave me a comment below with a ★★★★★ star rating or tag @plantbasedfolk on social media.
Recipe
Cold Glass Noodles Salad (Easy & Vegan)
Ingredients
- 360 g Potato Starch Noodles cooked as per packet instructions (any type of glass noodles)
- 1 med Carrot julienned
- 1 larg Cucumber julienned
- 1 large handful Red cabbage thinly sliced
- 2-3 sprigs Scallion (Spring Onion) chopped
- ½ cup Peanuts (roasted and salted) roughly chopped
- 1 large handful Bean sprouts
- 1 handful Cilantro (Coriander) chopped
Glass Noodle Salad Dressing
- 1½ med Lime freshly juiced
- 2½ tablespoon Sesame Oil
- 2½ tablespoon Soy sauce gluten free
- 1 sml Red chilli finely chopped
- 1½ tablespoon Maple Syrup
- 1 tablespoon Ginger fresh, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon Sesame Seeds (optional)
- 1 teaspoon Salt (optional) to taste
Instructions
- Cook glass noodles as per packet instructions, then in a large salad bowl, using kitchen scissors, cut noodles into smaller pieces.
- Add in all vegetables and herbs to the noodles.
- Whisk together dressing ingredients and pour over the salad ingredients. Toss everything together. Serve cold.
Video
Notes
Equipment
Nutrition
N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.
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Dina
Slippery noodles with lots of flavor. I will be making this again.
Jacqui
Such a wonderful recipe! I prepared this salad during my cooking stream and it was so much fun. Every one thought it looked good, and it was so tasty. The dressing is amazing, and I will be using that for many more meals.
Traci
Glass noodles are so much fun to make and eat! They remind me a little of ramen but very different too. I love the simplicity of the salad and how wonderful it turns out. Such a simple and easy meal to make and perfect for those busy nights!
Janelle Hama
I couldn't agree more! Healthy and satisfying!
Pete
I feel good after I eat this glass noodle salad, no bloating afterwards for me
Nancy
You salad is exactly what I was craving with this crazy heat. It was so flavorful and it's going to go on rotation during the summer.