Do you ever find a dish that you just never want to stop eating? I think this Asian Pasta Salad is it for me! And usually when I’m feeling that way about a dish, I typically regret it shortly after eating it, because it’s a rich dish. But not this Asian Pasta Salad . . . there is nothing guilty about it aside from how large of a serving I want.
If you’re new to my blog, then let me fill you in a tad. While I’m a major fan of comfort food, I’m trying to make some healthier decisions this year. And limiting how much dairy I eat each week is the biggest choice I’m making. And so far it’s going so well! I’ve already shared a creamy and healthy soup, a super easy Pad Thai recipe, and insanely good Lemon Blueberry Belgian Waffles that are all dairy free.
So what I’m learning is that dairy free doesn’t mean that I have to sacrifice flavor. Hooray! Seriously, I was a bit worried that I’d feel like I was missing out on eating what I want. What a relief to know I’m not!
Truthfully I was really struggling with what I felt like cooking this week. I’m not sure why I was feeling so blocked and uninspired. And that’s when I took a stroll through my cookbook collection and found this recipe from Giada de Laurentiis. Here’s the thing . . . Giada is my culinary idol. Not only does every damn dish of hers that I make turn out perfectly, I also love how happy and passionate she is. Those are 2 things that I’m striving to fill my 2017 with.
So I truly didn’t doubt for a second that this Asian Pasta Salad would be stellar. First of all, it makes a TON of food. So I hope you have a small army to feed. Okay, just kidding, but I’ll be eating on it for a while. However, it’s so delicious that I actually don’t think I’ll mind digging into these leftovers for a few days.
The Asian Pasta Salad is not only dairy free, but it’s also vegetarian, vegan and gluten free. Score! So let’s chat about what we’re working with here. First of all are the soba noodles, and this is my first time ever cooking them. Soba noodles are made from buckwheat and are usually gluten free. Now you have these noodles tossed with thinly chopped vegetables including Napa cabbage, red peppers, scallions, and cucumbers. Toss the pasta, veggies, and some sliced almonds with an incredibly flavorful sauce, and lunch is served!
For the sauce it’s a mix of almond butter, soy sauce, EVOO, fresh lime juice, sesame oil, honey, ginger and wasabi paste. It’s this nutty and bright sauce that just takes this Asian Pasta Salad to a crazy good level. And if you love sushi, I have a feeling you’ll adore this dish, because I felt like I was eating a sushi inspired pasta salad. With the sesame oil, ginger, and wasabi paste it really felt like a California roll (sans rice) with a wicked dressing married a pasta salad.
I wish I could fully express how much I loved this salad, but you’ll just have to make it for yourself to understand what I mean.
For the ingredients, you’ll find the soba noodles, sesame oil, and wasabi paste in your Asian foods aisle. Otherwise the only other thing that I find slightly hard to find is Napa cabbage, so just go to a really well stocked produce section, and you should be in luck. Recently a nearby area in KC got a Sprouts grocery store, and I’m loving their produce section, which is where I can always count on finding Napa cabbage.
Now go grab your grocery list, add all of the ingredients you need for this Asian Pasta Salad recipe and make it ASAP. This is one dairy free meal that I will absolutely be making time and time again. Happy salad eating!
A look back:
One year ago: Broiled Grapefruit Heats Up Breakfast!
Two years ago: Learning to Love Salads – Part 17: Quinoa and Kale Salad
Three years ago: Well Hello Cheesy Quinoa and Broccoli Patties!
Four years ago: Cauliflower Couscous … Minus the Couscous … Just Trust Me
Five years ago: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies … A Delicious Trip Down Memory Lane
Six years ago: Rooting Around
This looks fabulous! It will help me stick with my resolution to eat healthy. I love your photos too, it’s like I can stick a fork in and try some. Made me hungry!!
Yes, definitely one of my resolutions too! And thanks – those photos are making me hungry now too! Enjoy!
This looks delicious! You wouldn’t even know you were eating a salad ???? I find it so hard to find gluten free soba noodles where I live as they often have wheat flour added to them!!
I was reading about soba noodles and saw that you definitely want to check the label. I wonder if you could order them online from Amazon or another retailer that might have the gluten free soba noodles?
I had never heard of Soba noodles but this looks amazing, Can’t wait to give it a try!
I hadn’t cooked with them before, but they’re a really great gluten free substitute to cook with! I really like the texture of them compared to some kinds of gluten free noodles. I can’t wait for you to try this recipe, Rebecca!
Oh yum????. I am saving this for the future! I love Asian food and always am looking for new recipes! I love that you love Giada de Laurentiis! She was the first person who inspired me to learn how to cook!
Oh you’ll love this one for sure, Glenna. Seriously anything Giada makes, never fails. And I love that you love her too!
Wow, that salad looks so delicious I can’t wait to try it. I know transitioning to a “dairy free” diet is SOOO HARD!!! Did it about 4 years ago but I am so happy I did, very little dairy in my diet now, but I do miss cheese. It is good to have options though and some tasty recipes to make you forget about what you are not eating!
I can’t wait for you to try this one either, and that is so true, Lennis! I think it’s cheese that I’m having the hardest time with, but so far I’ve done really well eating dairy free at home. Now it’s just eating out that I have to be better at.