Oriental Noodle Salad Recipe

Oriental Noodle Salad is sometimes called Asian Noodle Salad or Chinese Noodle Salad. This delicious, easy cold salad is inexpensive to make and not only can be made ahead of time, it has to made ahead of time. It goes over really well at a dish-to-pass party or as a side salad at a cook out.

Years ago I worked at a restaurant where we made this all the time. So often, in fact, that I never wrote down the recipe. Well, guess what- after years and years of not making it, I couldn't remember the recipe! I had to fiddle around a bit before I got an Oriental Noodle Salad that was as good as I remembered. I'm still not sure if this is the exact recipe, but it's darn close. The important part is that everyone who's had it loves it, so I'm sticking with this recipe!

Oriental Noodle Salad

Ingredients:
1 20 oz. package frozen stir-fry vegetables
1 pound angel hair pasta (noodles)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup soy sauce*
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon peanut sauce

Instructions:
1. Thaw vegetables in colander under running water.
2. Break noodles in half, cook according to package instructions.
3. Rinse cooked noodles under cold water until noodles are cold.
4. Mix vegetables, noodles, and oil in large bowl.
5. Whisk soy sauce and peanut sauce in small bowl.
6. Pour soy mixture over noodle mixture and mix well.
7. Refrigerate at least three hours. (Liquid will be absorbed.) Stir before serving.

*Low sodium soy sauce can be substituted.

As far as the vegetables go, I think every grocery store chain has their own combination of frozen stir-fry vegetables. Just make sure you're getting them from the vegetable section and not the frozen meal section- all you need are the veggies. My favorite is from our regional grocery chain (Wegman's) and it's called Hong Kong vegetable mix. Wal-Mart has three or four frozen stir-fry vegetable combinations, so buy the one that appeals most to you.

Oriental Noodle Salad Variation: This variation is great if you're looking for a way to use leftover chicken or pork. Either dice the leftover chicken or pork or cut it into strips and add it to the Oriental Noodle Salad. Adding the meat makes it an ideal one-dish meal for a summer luncheon. This salad is relatively inexpensive to make, so dicing or slicing the meat into it also helps stretch the food budget.

I hope this Oriental Noodle Salad recipe is as popular in your house as it is in mine!