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★ Why You’ll Love this Recipe ★
These simple sesame noodles with carrots are a great little side dish or as I like to call them, lunch.
This pasta salad is simple yet delicious and is great for potlucks or for munching on throughout the week. Stores well in the fridge for up to about 4-5 days.
Lunch On Demand
Imagine this—it's a hot summer's weekend day and you're hungry for a late lunch because it's been a busy morning. You don't feel like cooking anything or even making a sandwich.
So you open the fridge and find a ready-made, chilled, Sesame Noodle and Carrot Salad. You pull out the big container, fill up a bowl and then pat yourself on the back for planning ahead. You're also glad you made plenty because this noodle salad is good enough to eat for days.
Great for Meal Planning
Want to spend less on eating out for lunch? A little planning goes a long way.
This sesame noodle salad can be made ahead for a grab-and-go lunch.
If you struggle with meal planning or just getting your grocery situation organized, check out my one-page meal planner. I promise it'll change your life!
★ Ingredients You Need ★
- Carrots. You can use matchstick carrots, fresh shredded carrots or spiralized carrots which are more like noodles.
- Noodles. Use any noodles you like—spaghetti, rice noodles, or Asian-style noodles all work well. I’ve tried rice noodles, Lo Mein, and spaghetti, and they’re all great options.
- Ginger and garlic. You can use powdered ginger and garlic, but paste offers better flavor and texture. Freshly ground or pressed works too—just roast the garlic to mellow its bite. I prefer the ready-made pastes found near fresh herbs—they’re easy and full of flavor!
- Soy sauce. A classic Asian staple. You can choose regular or low sodium. I actually prefer the taste of the low sodium. It doesn't overpower the dish.
- Sesame seed oil. I like the toasted sesame seed oil if you can find it. It adds a slightly nutty flavor which is really delicious.
- Green onions. For best results, chop these up finely.
- Rice vinegar. Another classic Asian flavor. Make sure you don't use white or any other flavor of vinegar or this dish will not taste right. Must be rice vinegar.
- Toasted sesame seeds. Buy pre-toasted sesame seeds or toast them yourself—just bake for about 1 minute until golden and fragrant. Watch closely—they burn fast!
- Vegetable bullion. This adds another layer of flavor in the same way gravy or adding aromacis (onion, celery, carrots, etc.) adds flavor, yet keeps this dish vegetarian.
- Black pepper. This is finishes off the dish but adding a little bite. Fresh ground is best.
★ How to Make this Recipe ★
This sesame noodle salad is easy to prep. Here's a look at the steps.
It all comes together in 4 quick and easy steps:
- Cook and drain noodles. Spiralize or shred and fresh carrot.
- Toss to combine: cooked noodles, carrots, ginger paste, garlic paste, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, vegetable bullion, toasted sesame seeds and black pepper.
- Top with green onions and chill then serve.
★ Tips & FAQs ★
This cold sesame noodle salad is light, flavorful, and refreshingly filling. Use spiraled or shredded carrots and your choice of Asian or spaghetti noodles.
The dressing features garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, and a touch of bouillon for that salty umami kick. Toasted sesame seeds and green onion add texture and fresh flavor.
It may look simple, but it’s packed with classic Asian-inspired taste. I first had a version of this at the Giant deli in Maryland and have been recreating it ever since.
After lots of testing, this version nails it—with slightly less oil for a lighter touch. It brings back such nostalgic, happy memories. Food really does have that magic, doesn’t it?
For the best crunch and flavor, spiralize fresh carrots at home—it’s just as easy as shredding them. You can also peel and shred carrots if you don’t have a spiralizer. Fresh-cut carrots give you better flavor, texture, and moisture. Still, if you're short on time, go with whatever is easiest for you!
★ More Noodle Recipes ★
Craving easy-to-make lunch ideas?
Browse all my lunch recipes! Be sure to Pin your favorites for later.
This recipe for cold sesame noodles with carrots was featured on South Your Mouth, Pretty Pintastic and Julie's Simple Southern!
Chilled Sesame Noodles with Carrots
Equipment
Ingredients
- 7 oz Asian noodles or spaghetti about half a package
- 1 cup shredded or spiralized carrots about 1 large carrot
- 4 teaspoon ginger paste
- 2 teaspoon garlic paste
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2-3 tablespoon sesame oil to taste
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon vegetable bullion powder/paste
- 2 tablespoon lightly toasted sesame seeds
- Black pepper to taste
- 2 green onions chopped
Mighty Mrs. is a #WalmartPartner.
Instructions
- Cook noodles according to package then drain.
- Spiralize carrots or you can peel and shred a fresh carrot.
- Add noodles and carrots to a large bowl or pot. Add ginger paste, garlic paste, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice viniegar, vegetable bullion, toasted sesame seeds and black pepper. Toss.
- Top with green onions and serve this sesame noodle salad cold.
Claire says
Made this, but added 1 Tablespoon of sambal oelek for some heat. Also made it hot as a stir fry as I don't like cold noodles. Sauce was excellent and this is a keeper.
Angela G. says
Thanks for sharing your tweaks and for the review!
Karen says
I made this for my husband and he loved it! He gave it 5 stars, and I gave it 4 stars because I am not a fan of ginger.
Angela G. says
I’m glad you enjoyed it! You could try it without ginger next time and see what you think. I bet it would still be tasty.
Gerals says
Giant Food recently changed the recipe for there sesame noodle salad. I don't like the new recipe as well. I tried several other recipes before trying your recipe. Yours is spot on! Thank you.
Angela G. says
I can’t believe they changed it after all these years. Don’t mess with a good thing, right? Lol Glad you found this to be a good match for the original!
Trish Buchanan says
WHO are the people that gave this 5 stars? I don't see their review.
Angela G. says
You can rate the recipe anonymously or you can rate it plus leave a review or you can just leave a review.
Trish Buchanan says
i just made this and there is SOOO much leftover liquid! in your picture the noodles do not
look as wet as what I ended up with. I measured everything including the pasta too. I am tempted to add more pasta.
Angela G. says
You may find that the liquid (dressing) absorbs into the noodles after some time so if you are serving or eating this immediately and you notice there is extra dressing, feel free to add more noodles if that’s what you prefer.
Angela says
I just made this tonight and had no leftover liquid. I’m not sure what’s happening for you, Trish. Try watching the video that shows how to make these noodles step by step and that may help. If you have any other questions let me know.
Trish says
need to format the recipe. I clicked print and ended up with SIX pages! And the recipe printed twice.
what a waste of paper.
Angela G. says
Hey Trish, Thanks for the feedback. If you use the Print button above the recipe, that will give you more control next time. You'll get a print preview and you can delete any sections you don't want to print. Hope this helps for future reference!