Thai-Inspired Noodle Salad

If you’re looking for a vibrant, refreshing meal that’s as quick as it is delicious, look no further than this Thai-Inspired Noodle Salad. Packed with crunchy vegetables, vermicelli noodles, and roasted peanuts, this dish is bursting with flavour. Its light, punchy dressing made with fish sauce, lime juice, and soy sauce pulls all the ingredients together perfectly, making it an ideal lunch, dinner, or meal prep option.

Not only is this salad quick and easy to throw together, but it also requires minimal cooking – just soaking the noodles and beansprouts in hot water. With the fresh vegetables and the zesty dressing, this salad is the perfect balance of light, fresh, and satisfying. Plus, it can be prepped ahead of time, storing well in the fridge for up to four days.

Table of Contents

• Ingredient Breakdown
• The Star of the Show: The Dressing
• Preparing the Salad
• Meal Prep Made Easy
• Customising the Thai-Inspired Noodle Salad
• Serving Suggestions
• More Thai-Inspired Recipes

Ingredient Breakdown

• Carrot: Thinly cut into matchsticks, adding a sweet, crunchy texture to the salad.
• Bell pepper: Also cut into matchsticks, contributing a juicy crunch and vibrant colour.
• Cucumber: Adds a refreshing, mild crunch, balancing the stronger flavours of the other vegetables.
• Spring onions: Thinly sliced to give a slight bite and mild sharpness, complementing the rest of the veggies.
• Fresh coriander: Roughly chopped, offering a burst of freshness and aroma that elevates the entire dish.
• Vermicelli noodles: Soaked in hot water, these thin noodles provide a light base that absorbs the flavourful dressing.
• Beansprouts: Rinsed and drained, they add crunch and freshness, enhancing the salad’s texture.
• Roasted, unsalted peanuts: Crushed or finely chopped, they add a satisfying crunch and nutty flavour to the salad.

The Star of the Show: The Dressing

One of the most essential aspects of the Thai-Inspired Noodle Salad is the dressing. The dressing is what gives the salad its signature Thai-inspired flavour profile: salty, sweet, sour, and savoury. Fish sauce is the cornerstone of this dressing, offering a deep umami flavour that is the hallmark of Thai cuisine. Although it may seem quite pungent on its own, it adds a complex savouriness that becomes more balanced once it’s mixed with the other ingredients.

Lime juice and zest bring the much-needed acidity and freshness to the dish. The sharpness of the lime juice cuts through the richness of the fish sauce, balancing the flavours and making each bite feel refreshing and light. Soy sauce adds another layer of depth and a hint of saltiness, while vegetable oil provides the necessary smoothness to bind the dressing together. The sugar adds sweetness, rounding off the dressing with a subtle contrast to the salt and acidity. Garlic, if added, provides an extra dimension, giving the dressing a little bite and further enriching the overall flavour.

When whisking the dressing, it’s important to taste as you go. The balance of sweet, salty, and sour should be just right. If it feels too salty, a little more lime juice or sugar can help balance it out. This flexibility allows you to tailor the dressing to your personal taste, ensuring that every bite is perfectly seasoned.

Preparing the Salad

The Thai-Inspired Noodle Salad is incredibly easy to prepare. This makes it ideal for quick weeknight meals or when you’re entertaining guests. The dish also requires very little hands-on cooking. The noodles and beansprouts only need to be soaked in boiling water for about five minutes. During this time, you can prep the vegetables and the dressing, allowing the ingredients to come together seamlessly. Once the noodles and beansprouts are ready, rinse them under cold water to stop them from cooking further. This will ensure they stay fresh and crisp.

After draining the noodles, transfer them to a large mixing bowl. Then, add the prepped vegetables – carrot, bell pepper, cucumber, spring onions, and fresh coriander. At this point, you’re almost ready to assemble the salad. For the dressing, simply whisk together the fish sauce, sugar, lime juice, soy sauce, oil, and optional garlic. Make sure you whisk until the sugar dissolve to create a perfectly balanced dressing that will tie the whole salad together.

The key to this salad is tossing everything together. The noodles and beansprouts will soak up the dressing, absorbing all those flavours while still keeping their light, delicate texture. The vegetables should be mixed through so that every bite is a combination of crunch, freshness, and that tangy-salty dressing. Finally, sprinkle crushed peanuts on top for a satisfying crunch that completes the salad’s texture profile.

Meal Prep Made Easy

One of the biggest advantages of this Thai-Inspired Noodle Salad is how well it lends itself to meal prepping. This salad keeps well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, making it an excellent choice for preparing meals in advance. Not only does it store well, but the flavours also improve as it sits, allowing the dressing to marinate with the vegetables and noodles, creating a deeper, more integrated taste.

To meal prep, simply divide the salad into individual portions and store them in airtight containers. If you prefer, you can pack the dressing separately and mix it with the salad just before eating to maintain the crunch of the fresh vegetables. The salad is versatile enough to be eaten as a standalone meal or paired with grilled protein like chicken or prawns for added substance.

This salad is ideal for those looking to bring a healthy, vibrant lunch to work or school. It’s also a great option to take on a picnic or potluck, offering a refreshing and light dish that can be easily served alongside other foods.

Customising the Thai-Inspired Noodle Salad

Although the base recipe is already delicious, one of the best things about the Thai-Inspired Noodle Salad is its adaptability. You can easily swap out or add ingredients based on your preferences or dietary needs. Here are a few ways to customise your salad:

• Add Protein: While the salad is great on its own, adding a protein can make it even more filling. Consider topping the salad with grilled chicken, prawns, or tofu for a protein-packed meal.
• Try Different Nuts: If you prefer a different type of nut, cashews or almonds work wonderfully in this salad. They add a different flavour and texture but still provide that necessary crunch.
• Add Extra Veggies: Feel free to experiment with other vegetables like shredded cabbage, snap peas, or edamame for added nutrition and variety.
• Spice It Up: If you like a little heat, you can easily spice up the dressing by adding some fresh red chilli or chilli flakes to give it a kick.

Serving Suggestions

This Thai-Inspired Noodle Salad is fantastic on its own, but it can also be paired with other dishes for a more substantial meal. Here are some ideas for serving:

• Grilled Protein: Serve the salad alongside grilled chicken, prawns, or tofu for a balanced meal.
• Rice: If you prefer something more filling, pair the salad with steamed rice or coconut rice for added texture and flavour.
• Spring Rolls: For a more complete meal, serve with fresh or fried spring rolls. The crunchy exterior of the rolls complements the refreshing noodles perfectly.
• Pickled Vegetables: Pickled vegetables or a tangy pickle can provide a sharp contrast to the sweetness of the dressing, making for a well-rounded meal.

More Thai-Inspired Recipes

If you’ve enjoyed making this Thai-Inspired Noodle Salad, here are some more recipes packing a similar punch for you to try:

• Thai-Inspired Pumpkin Soup: This vegan Thai-inspired pumpkin soup packs a ton of flavour. It’s spicy, creamy and absolutely delicious! 
• Thai Curry Chicken Noodle Soup: A winter warmer in every sense of the word – it’s fiery, full of flavour and absolutely delicious! 
• Golden Thai Curry Chicken Noodle Soup: This Golden Thai Curry Chicken Noodle Soup is quite literally a hug in a bowl. It’s hearty, comforting and packed full of  umami flavours which comes together in just 20 minutes. 

See how I make these recipes and more over on my Instagram!