Nutritious, delicious, and every color under the sun - this Rainbow Peanut Noodle Salad has it all. Use this recipe for you next side dish or bulk it up with some protein and make it your main!
What is a Rainbow Peanut Noodle Salad?
A Rainbow Peanut Noodle Salad is a salad inspired by Pad Thai. It is a fresh colorful lunch full of crunchy vegetables, a creamy peanut sauce, and delicious, soft noodles.
The delicious brightness of this salad is irresistible. Make this a delectable side dish or a filling main by adding some protein. Don't wait to try this amazing, nutritious dish!
Rainbow Peanut Noodle Salad
This Rainbow Peanut Noodle Salad is the perfect salad! It is full of nutty flavors and natural sweetness. With a homemade creamy peanut sauce, this nutritious meal is sure to be a hit with the whole family.
Serve it as a side dish, or make it a meal by adding some protein on top. Edamame, cabbage, carrots, and peppers - there are rainbow veggies galore in this scrumptious salad. Something about me is I love a filling, vegetable-rich salad and this is surely that! Try this nutritious meal today, and make it for meal prep to enjoy for the entire week.
Rainbow Peanut Noodle Salad ingredients
Here is everything you'll need to make this delicious salad and creamy peanut dressing:
Salad ingredients
- brown rice noodles
- purple cabbage
- carrots
- edamame
- red bell pepper
- cilantro
- green onion
Peanut dressing
- creamy peanut butter
- soy sauce
- rice vinegar
- maple syrup
- sesame oil
- sriracha
- garlic powder
- water
How to make a rainbow peanut noodle salad
Follow these easy instructions to make this yummy rainbow salad:
- Gather all ingredients.
- Start by adding all peanut sauce ingredients (besides water) to a small mixing bowl. Mix really well. Slowly stir in water, mixing well as you add. Set aside.
- Prepare all vegetables — wash and chop purple cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, cilantro, and green onion.
- Heat water in a pot and cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain, rise, and set aside to let cool.
- In a large serving bowl, add all of the vegetables and cooked noodles. Mix.
- Add dressing and stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Store in the fridge.
- Enjoy!
Rainbow peanut noodle salad substitution ideas
Here are some substitutions ideas for you to think about:
- Cabbage: Instead of purple cabbage, you could substitute green or red cabbage.
- Soy sauce: Try coconut aminos for a gluten-free version.
- Veggies: Use frozen edamame or add red onion. You can really add or substitute any vegetable, the ones I picked are just most traditional to a peanut noodle bowl.
- Toppings: Some yummy toppings to consider: sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, or a tiny bit of grated fresh ginger.
How long does a rainbow peanut noodle salad last in the fridge?
This rainbow noodle salad will last for up to five days in your fridge. Make sure to keep it in an airtight container.
How to meal prep this recipe
Simply make according to instructions. Then store in the fridge in one big airtight container or split into equal servings to store.
When you're ready to eat, serve the noodle salad cold. Enjoy this delicious recipe all week long!
What goes well with a rainbow peanut noodle salad
To make this a whole meal, I recommend adding some kind of protein to bulk up this dish. Some grilled tofo or chicken would be a perfect addition to this salad.
As far as sides goes, some fresh fruit would taste great alongside this noodle salad. Try some pineapple, watermelon, or make your own fruit salad to accompany the noodle dish.
How healthy is this rainbow peanut noodle salad?
Healthy is a subjective term and means something different to everyone. Healthy for you may be different for me based on our bodies, health goals, and workout routines.
Something I love to do is look at the individual ingredients to see how they support my body. For example, edamame is high in protein, fiber and vitamin C. Protein and fiber help keep you fuller for longer and Vitamin C is great at supporting your immune system.
Another example is red bell peppers. They are extremely high in Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for vision and cell health and growth.
How do peanut noodles taste?
Peanut noodles have a rich, nutty flavor. They are often described as tangy or savory, as the flavor is enhanced by whatever dressing or sauce you add.
You can add a bit of spice, too! Try some red pepper flakes on top of the salad if that's your thing!
What is the origin of peanut noodles?
The origin of these noodles is unclear. Likely, they originated in China or Thailand.
In the popular Thai dish, Pad Thai, there is a peanut sauce used as well as peanut toppings. Some claim the noodles came from the South of China and a popular chain restaurant.
What sides go with peanut noodles?
Some yummy sides would be fresh fruit or even more vegetables! Think cucumber, extra snap peas, or pickled radishes.
As mentioned throughout this blog, you could add chicken or tofu to get an extra boost of protein and make this salad into a main course. Have fun and make it your own!
Other delicious side dish ideas
Need some side dish inspo? Look no further and try these delicious side dishes from Jordo's World:
Rainbow Peanut Noodle Salad
Ingredients
- 8 oz brown rice noodles
- 2 cups purple cabbage (⅓ cabbage, thinly shredded)
- 2 cups carrots (3 carrots, thinly shredded)
- 1 cup edamame
- 1 red bell pepper thin slices
- ½ cup cilantro chopped
- ½ cup green onion chopped
Peanut dressing
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 4 tablespoon soy sauce
- 3 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoon sriracha
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients.
- Start by adding all peanut dressing ingredients (besides water) to a small bowl. Mix really well. Slowly stir in water, mixing well as you add. Set aside.
- Prepare all vegetables — wash and chop purple cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, cilantro, and green onion.
- Heat water in a pot and cook brown rice noodles according to package instructions. Drain, rise, and set aside to let cool.
- In a large bowl, add all of the vegetables and noodles. Mix.
- Add dressing and stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Store in the fridge.
- Enjoy!
Sami says
Reminds me of NOLS Gado Gado back country meal! Made this today and added ground turkey and trippled the edamame! Yum!
Jordan Smith says
Your modifications sound great. Something like this would be SO GOOD in the backcountry!!
Marisa says
Delicious! I added chicken to make it a meal. It makes a large amount so great for meal prep. The dressing is sweet with a little kick. I love how colorful the salad is.
Jamee Brick says
So delicious! We used angel hair because my mister doesn't care for rice noodles. I doubled the dressing for more flavor.
Thank you for another winner!
Kristin Brooks says
Made this today and it is AMAZING! Added chicken for extra protein !
Jordan Smith says
Yessssss great idea to add chicken! So happy you enjoyed this one! It's perfect for summer!