Soba Noodle Salad
A hearty Japanese side built around dried soba noodles, mirin and cucumber — roughly 65 minutes start to finish, and rated medium to make. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 6 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for large pot and saucepan. At medium difficulty across 6 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (7)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegetarian — no meat or fish, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Gluten Soy Sesame
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Cook the soba in a large pot of boiling unsalted water for 4 to 5 minutes until just tender, then drain and rinse thoroughly under cold running water until completely cool and no longer starchy.
- Whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, mirin, honey, and grated ginger in a small bowl until the honey dissolves into a smooth dressing.
- Slice the cucumber into thin half-moons, cut the carrot and red pepper into fine matchsticks, and thinly slice the scallions on the diagonal.
- If using frozen edamame, blanch in boiling water for 3 minutes, then drain and cool; shell if still in pods.
- Combine the well-drained soba, vegetables, and edamame in a large bowl, pour over the dressing, and toss gently with your hands or tongs until everything is evenly coated.
- Finish with the toasted sesame seeds, taste and adjust with a splash more soy if needed, and serve chilled or at room temperature.
You'll use: Large pot · Saucepan · Whisk
Ingredient substitutions
- Soy Sauce
- tamari (gluten-free) · coconut aminos
- Rice Vinegar
- apple cider vinegar · white wine vinegar
- Honey
- maple syrup · agave
What to serve with Soba Noodle Salad
- Teriyaki Chicken Casserole Chicken
- Honey Teriyaki Salmon Seafood
- Katsu Chicken curry Chicken
- Chicken Karaage Chicken
Tips & common questions
How long does Soba Noodle Salad take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 13 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of soy sauce?
Try tamari (gluten-free). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Soba Noodle Salad vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat, fish or shellfish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheese for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Original recipe — developed in-house by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Soba Noodle Salad is an original Japanese recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Soba Bento (2773080105).jpg by Maria from McLean, Virginia, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.