Exotic Cold Soba Noodle Salad with Basil and Peanut Sauce

Ingredients

Soba noodles

200 grams

Fresh basil leaves

1/2 cup, chopped

Cucumber

1 medium, julienned

Carrot

1 medium, julienned

Red bell pepper

1 medium, thinly sliced

Green onions

2 stalks, thinly sliced

Roasted peanuts

1/4 cup, chopped

Lime

1, juiced

Soy sauce

2 tablespoons

Peanut butter

2 tablespoons

Rice vinegar

2 tablespoons

Honey

1 tablespoon

Garlic

2 cloves, minced

Ginger

1 inch piece, grated

Sesame oil

1 tablespoon

Salt

1/2 teaspoon or to taste

Crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 teaspoon or to taste

Instructions

1. Cook the soba noodles according to the package instructions. Drain well and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and remove any excess starch. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the cooked soba noodles, chopped basil, cucumber, carrot, red bell pepper, green onions, and chopped peanuts.
3. Prepare the peanut sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, soy sauce, peanut butter, rice vinegar, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil, salt, and crushed red pepper flakes until smooth and well combined.
4. Pour the peanut sauce over the noodle mixture. Toss gently until all the ingredients are evenly coated in the sauce.
5. Cover the salad and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This allows the noodles to soak up the flavors of the sauce and the vegetables to stay crisp.
6. Stir the salad before serving to redistribute the sauce. Serve chilled.