Cold Udon Salad

MAINS
Written By Azusa
 
cold udon salad
 

Refreshing Udon Salad (Cold Noodle Salad with Miso Dressing)

The reason I love summer? It’s all about cold noodles and colorful, crisp salads.
When the weather heats up, I tend to lose my appetite — but chilled dishes like this Cold Udon Salad always hit the spot. It’s refreshing, light, and packed with vibrant veggies. Tossed in a flavorful Japanese-style dressing with a hint of miso and sesame, this dish is quick to prepare and perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

Think of this as your clean-out-the-fridge noodle salad — just boil your udon, prep your vegetables, and shake up the dressing. It’s that simple.

🥢 What is Udon Salad?

Udon Salad is a chilled noodle salad made with thick, chewy udon noodles and topped with fresh seasonal vegetables. It’s commonly served with a tangy soy sauce or miso-based dressing and is a popular summer dish in Japan. The cold noodles help cool you down, and the colorful veggies make it as beautiful as it is refreshing.

RECIPE

Servings: 1

Time: 20 min

Ingredients:

  • 1 serving of udon noodles (fresh or frozen)

  • 1/4 cucumber

  • 1/2 tomato

  • A handful of mizuna or baby greens

  • 2 tbsp corn kernels

  • A few slices of red onion

For the Dressing:

My Kitchen Tools:

Boiling Pot

Instructions:

  1. Prep the vegetables:
    Slice the cucumber and red onion thinly.

    Chop the tomato into bite-size pieces.

    If using frozen corn, thaw it.

    Wash and drain the mizuna or greens.

  2. Cook the udon noodles:
    Boil water and cook the udon noodles according to the package instructions.

    Once cooked, rinse under cold water to cool, and drain well.

  3. Make the dressing:
    In a small bowl or jar, mix rice vinegar, miso, mentsuyu, sugar, and sesame oil.

    Stir or shake well until smooth and combined.

  4. Assemble the salad:
    In a serving bowl, toss the cooled noodles with the prepared vegetables.

    Pour the dressing over and mix gently to combine.

  5. Serve immediately

    or chill for 10 minutes to let the flavors come together.

    Optionally, garnish with sesame seeds, shredded nori, or a boiled egg.

 

Tips & Variations

  • Protein boost: Add shredded chicken, tofu, or boiled egg.

  • Add crunch: Top with crispy shallots or roasted sesame seeds.

  • Swap veggies: Try bell peppers, lettuce, edamame, or radish.

  • Make ahead: Keep the noodles and veggies separate from the dressing until ready to serve.

 
 
Azusa
Next

Agedashi Tofu