Enoki Salad
Easy Enoki Mushroom Salad Recipe
If you’ve ever made Harusame Salad, this recipe will feel comfortingly familiar, but with a twist. Instead of using glass noodles, we’re swapping them out for enoki mushrooms. The result is a light, refreshing, and healthy Japanese-style salad that’s packed with umami flavor and a fun noodle-like texture.
This Enoki Salad is perfect as a side dish for dinner, a quick lunch option, or even part of a Japanese-style meal prep. The chewy enoki strands soak up the savory-sweet dressing beautifully, making every bite satisfying yet refreshing.
What is Enoki Salad?
Enoki mushrooms (えのき茸) are long, thin white mushrooms often used in Japanese cooking. They have a mild flavor and a tender-crisp texture that resembles noodles once cooked. In this salad, enoki mushrooms take the place of glass noodles, creating a lighter and more vegetable-forward version of the classic Harusame Salad.
RECIPE
Servings: 2-3
Time: 15 min
Ingredients:
1 pack enoki mushrooms
1 cucumber
4 slices ham
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp torigara powder (Japanese chicken soup stock)
sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions:
Prepare the enoki:
Trim off the root end of the enoki mushrooms and separate them into smaller bundles.Place them in a heatproof bowl, cover, and microwave for 1.5 minutes until softened.
Slice the cucumber and ham:
Cut the cucumber and ham into thin, julienned strips.Mix the dressing:
While the enoki mushrooms are still warm, add torigara powder, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil directly into the bowl.Mix well so the flavors absorb into the mushrooms.
Combine and finish:
Add the cucumber and ham to the bowl and toss everything together.Sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving.
My Kitchen Tool:
This Japanese cypress wood cutting board works perfect for me
Tips & Variations
You can substitute ham with imitation crab, boiled chicken, or even tofu strips for a lighter version.
Chill the salad in the fridge for 15–20 minutes before serving for a refreshing, cold-side dish.
Add a touch of karashi mustard or yuzu kosho for an extra kick.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This easy Japanese Enoki Salad is quick to make, full of umami, and deliciously satisfying—without the heaviness of noodles. It’s a great way to enjoy mushrooms in a refreshing, unexpected way.
Perfect for:
Bento lunch sides
Summer salads
Easy Japanese meal prep
