Cold Soba Noodle Salad

This cold soba noodle salad is tossed with jammy roasted tomatoes, scallions, and a bright ginger-lime miso dressing. It's refreshing, savory, and ready in 30 minutes.

This cold soba noodle salad is one of my favorite ways to turn simple pantry ingredients into a fresh, satisfying meal. Nutty soba noodles are tossed with jammy roasted cherry tomatoes, scallions, and a bright ginger-lime miso dressing that's savory, tangy, slightly sweet, and full of umami.

The key is cooking the soba just until al dente, then rinsing it well under cold water so the noodles stay springy instead of sticky. I also roast the tomatoes with a bit of the dressing first, which concentrates their sweetness and creates flavorful juices that help coat every bite. Serve it chilled or at room temperature for an easy 30-minute vegetarian lunch or light dinner.

Jump to:

• ⭐️ Why You'll Love This Soba Noodle Salad
• 💬 What Are Soba Noodles?
• 🍅 Ingredient Notes
• 🔪 How To Make Cold Soba Noodle Salad
• 👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips
• Storage & Make-Ahead
• 📋 Variations & Add-Ins
• What To Serve With Vegetarian Soba Noodle Salad
• 💬 Frequently Asked Questions
• 🍜 More Asian-Inspired Recipes
• Cold Soba Noodle Salad Recipe

⭐️ Why You'll Love This Soba Noodle Salad

• Refreshing and flavorful: This cold soba noodle salad is savory, tangy, slightly sweet, and full of umami from the ginger-lime miso dressing.
• Ready in 30 minutes: Roast the tomatoes while the soba noodles cook and the dressing comes together.
• Great warm or cold: Serve it chilled, at room temperature, or slightly warm.
• Jammy roasted tomatoes: Roasting cherry tomatoes concentrates their sweetness and helps them coat the noodles.
• Make-ahead friendly: Perfect for meal prep, summer lunches, or a light vegetarian dinner.

💬 What Are Soba Noodles?

Soba noodles are Japanese noodles traditionally made with buckwheat flour, which gives them a nutty, earthy flavor. They can be served hot or cold, and they work especially well in noodle salads because they hold up nicely after cooking and rinsing. Try them in my spicy peanut butter noodles!

Many soba noodles also contain wheat flour, so check the package if you need them to be gluten-free. For a gluten-free version, look for soba made with 100% buckwheat.

🍅 Ingredient Notes

• Soba noodles: Their nutty flavor pairs beautifully with the miso dressing and roasted tomatoes. Cook just until al dente, then rinse well under cold water so they don't clump.
• Light yellow or white miso: Adds salty, savory, umami-rich flavor without overpowering the dressing. Red miso is stronger and saltier, so use less if substituting.
• Cherry tomatoes: Roasting concentrates their sweetness and creates jammy juices that help coat the noodles.
• Fresh ginger and garlic: Give the dressing sharp, aromatic flavor that balances the sweet tomatoes and savory miso.
• Toasted sesame oil: Adds rich, nutty flavor. A little goes a long way.
• Honey: Balances the salty miso, tangy vinegar, and lime. Use maple syrup to make the recipe vegan.
• Rice vinegar: Adds acidity and keeps the dressing bright. White wine vinegar can work in a pinch.
• Lime zest and juice: Fresh lime gives the dressing brightness and makes the noodles taste especially refreshing when served cold.
• Scallions: Add mild onion flavor, freshness, and a little crunch.

🔪 How To Make Cold Soba Noodle Salad

*See recipe card below for printable instructions.

Make the Miso Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk the olive oil, vinegar, miso, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, honey, lime zest, lime juice, and salt until smooth.  

Roast the Tomatoes: On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the tomatoes with 3 tablespoons of the miso sauce and season with a pinch of salt.

Roast tomatoes, tossed with a bit of the miso sauce, on a baking sheet for 20 minutes.

Cook and Rinse the Soba Noodles: Cook the soba noodles in boiling water just until al dente, 4 minutes. Drain and cool under cold running water.

Toss and Serve: Add the noodles, scallions, and half of the remaining sauce to the tomatoes and toss well. Season with additional salt if necessary.

Transfer to a platter and garnish with the sesame seeds and red pepper flakes (if using). Serve with the remaining sauce and enjoy.

👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Don't overcook the soba noodles. They can turn soft quickly, so cook just until al dente.
• Rinse the noodles well. Cold water stops the cooking and removes excess starch, which helps prevent clumping.
• Roast the tomatoes until jammy. They should be softened, blistered, and juicy so they help coat the noodles.
• Taste after chilling. Cold noodles often need a little extra lime juice, miso, sesame oil, or salt before serving.
• Loosen before serving if needed. If the noodles absorb the dressing in the fridge, add a splash of water, lime juice, or sesame oil before serving.

Storage & Make-Ahead

Store cold soba noodles in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It's best served chilled or at room temperature.

If the noodles absorb the dressing as they sit, toss with a splash of water, lime juice, or sesame oil before serving. For make-ahead prep, you can roast the tomatoes and whisk the dressing up to 24 hours in advance, then cook and rinse the soba noodles before tossing everything together.

I don't recommend freezing this recipe because the soba noodles and roasted tomatoes can become soft after thawing.

📋 Variations & Add-Ins

• Make it spicy: Add chili crisp, sriracha, chili garlic sauce, red pepper flakes, or a little gochujang to the dressing.
• Make it vegan: Use maple syrup instead of honey.
• Add protein: Try crispy tofu, edamame, chickpeas, salmon, shrimp, or a jammy egg.
• Add vegetables: Cucumber, shredded carrots, snap peas, cabbage, roasted mushrooms, bok choy, or broccoli would all work well.

What To Serve With Vegetarian Soba Noodle Salad

This cold soba noodle salad works well as a light vegetarian main dish, but you can also serve it with simple sides or extra protein. Try it with:

• Crispy tofu or edamame
• Crunchy cucumber salad or seaweed salad
• Roasted broccoli, mushrooms, or bok choy
• Spring rolls or dumplings
• Miso salmon, sesame tofu, or a jammy egg

💬 Frequently Asked Questions

🍜 More Asian-Inspired Recipes

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