Refreshing Rice Noodle Salad

Light, vibrant, and bursting with flavor, this Refreshing Rice Noodle Salad is the ultimate choice for a quick and healthy meal. Featuring tender rice noodles tossed with crisp red bell peppers, crunchy carrots, cool cucumbers, and fragrant fresh herbs like cilantro and mint, this dish is a celebration of fresh, colorful ingredients. The zesty lime and umami-packed dressing, made with fish sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and a hint of garlic and red chili, perfectly balances tangy, salty, and slightly spicy notes. Finished with a sprinkle of roasted peanuts for extra crunch, this salad is perfect as a light lunch, side dish, or potluck centerpiece. With just 30 minutes from start to finish, it’s an easy, flavor-packed recipe that’s perfect for busy weekdays or casual entertaining.

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 200 grams rice noodles
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 medium cucumber
• 0.5 cup fresh cilantro
• 0.25 cup fresh mint
• 2 stalks green onions
• 0.25 cup roasted peanuts
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1.5 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 0.5 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 small red chili

Directions

Step 1

Start by boiling water in a large pot. Once it reaches a rolling boil, add the rice noodles and cook according to package instructions, typically 4 to 5 minutes, until tender. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool.

Step 2

While the noodles are cooking, prepare the vegetables. Thinly slice the red bell pepper. Peel and julienne the carrot. Halve the cucumber lengthwise and slice it into thin semicircles.

Step 3

Chop the fresh cilantro and mint roughly. Slice the green onions thinly, including the green and white parts.

Step 4

For the dressing, in a small mixing bowl, combine lime juice, fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and minced garlic. Slice the red chili thinly and add to the dressing, mixing well to combine all flavors.

Step 5

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled rice noodles with the red bell pepper, carrot, cucumber, cilantro, mint, and green onions.

Step 6

Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss everything together to combine, ensuring the dressing coats all the ingredients evenly.

Step 7

Roughly chop the roasted peanuts and sprinkle them over the top of the salad.

Step 8

Serve immediately for optimal freshness, or chill in the refrigerator for up to 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors develop further.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	788.1 grams (788.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	656

Total Fat 27.60g	35%
Saturated Fat 4.40g	22%
Polyunsaturated Fat 8.70g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3017mg	131%
Total Carbohydrate 88.70g	32%
Dietary Fiber 12.60g	45%
Total Sugars 18.90g
Protein 21.00g	42%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 158mg	12%
Iron 4mg	22%
Potassium 1364mg	29%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 36.1%

Protein: 12.2%

Carbs: 51.6%