Ramen Noodle Salad-Gasp!
I know you never expected to read a post on my blog with the words “Ramen Noodle” and “Salad” in the title-I, at least, am shocked. Truth is, this salad contains no Ramen noodles because I just couldn’t bring myself to add them. I have had it both ways, and I really don’t think the Ramen noodles are necessary, but in case they are a favorite ingredient of yours I will include them in the directions.
It is a cabbage (I had to make something with all that Napa Cabbage left over from the dumplings) base with green onions, oil and vinegar, all tossed with toasted sesame seeds and almonds. It think it is delicious and crunchy and nutty all on it’s own. I have always been a fan of non-mayo based cabbage slaws and I am in love with sesame seeds, so I really enjoyed it.
My friend Kelly who doesn’t like nuts said it didn’t gross her out. So there.
Any suggestions for a name? I can’t call it Ramen Noodle Salad, and for some reason calling it Nutty Slaw makes me think of bad words.
Ramen Noodle Salad (aka ______ ? )
serves 4, prep 10 min, cook time 2 min- 2 tbsp oil (a nut oil like peanut or sesame would be nice)
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 3 tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 packages Ramen Noodles, crushed (optional)
- 1 head of cabbage, chopped
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1/2 cup salad oil
- 4 tbsp seasoned rice wine vinegar
- 4 tbsp sugar (I used 1 tbsp)
- salt and pepper
- Saute almonds, sesames seeds, and crushed Ramen noodles in 2 tbsp oil until toasted.
- Combine 1/2 cup salad oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper.
- Combine cabbage, green onions, and nut mixture in a large bowl, toss with desired amount of dressing.
This is best the first day it is made, it breaks down a lot by the next day (although I thought it was still delicious).
Cost Analysis:
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds: $0.75
- 1 head of cabbage (I used Napa): $1.68
- 3 green onions: $0.35
- Total cost for 4 servings: $2.78 or 70¢ per serving
May 1st, 2009 at 8:32 am
We make this all the time (yes, we add the ramen) but we add chopped cooked chicken and serve it as a main dish – especially in the summer. We call it Chinese Chicken Salad. My kids love this and even my 7 yo (who HATES anything even remotely “salad-ish”) love this for dinner. Yum.
May 1st, 2009 at 8:45 am
Ok this will sound strange but I make this salad too and when I was given the recipe it was called “Man Salad”. I was told it’s cause even the men like it. ???? I was thinking about blogging this too cause I always make it at least a few times a summer for cookouts. The only bad thing about it, not good eats the second day.
May 1st, 2009 at 12:40 pm
How about calling it Oriental Cabbage Salad?
May 1st, 2009 at 1:24 pm
My husband’s family always makes this, and they have always called it crunchy salad 🙂
May 1st, 2009 at 1:52 pm
How about Ranoosa – shortened RAmen NOOdle SAlad 😉
May 1st, 2009 at 2:19 pm
I make this alot in the summer and it’s so yummy! We call it Oriental Salad.
May 1st, 2009 at 5:17 pm
How about Asian Slaw?
May 1st, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Are you kidding…add the ramen noodles…THEY ARE GOOD! A big part of blogging the recession is cooking with ramen!
May 1st, 2009 at 9:59 pm
heh…nutty slaw
May 2nd, 2009 at 8:08 am
Looks great — what is salad oil?
I think it means any kind of oil you would use to dress a salad. I used grapeseed because I only had the dark green olive oil in my pantry, and I didn’t want a strong olive flavor. I would have liked to use walnut oil or sesame oil to accentuate the flavors in the salad. – Katie
May 4th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Ranoosa, hands down.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:58 am
Too funny….I just posted a similar recipe.
I love them all…all the variations of (gasp) Ramen Noodle Salad.
May 15th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
I just wanted to tell you that I am absolutely LOVING your site! I read so many food blogs, but so many of the recipes are a little outlandish for my family’s unsophisticated southern palate. I haven’t had time to go through all your recipes yet, but I can assure you I will and I plan on utilizing MANY of them 🙂
You’re awesome, keep it up!
June 16th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
That sounds so yummy!
June 16th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Katie, I went to a little dinner thing last night, and someone brought this ramen noodle salad! Once I saw it and took a bite, a flash went through my head that said, “This salad was on Chaos in the Kitchen!” It was quite delicious. 🙂
June 20th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
I love this salad, but the recipe I have, you cook the broken up “Oriental” flavor ramen noodles in some butter, then you use the flavor packets and add them to the noodles and cook them til toasted. The noodles will be crunchy, not soft, incase anyone is not sure about that part. I also add sesame seed along with that and almonds. Add peanuts to the salad too It is totally Yummy!!
August 2nd, 2009 at 12:16 am
We make this salad with chicken also as Jill does. Chinese Chicken Salad. We use the flavor packets from the oriental flavor ramen noodles, splenda instead of sugar (diabetics in the family), oil of choice and apple cider vinegar for the dressing…
January 15th, 2011 at 11:10 am
yummy!!!!!!
May 21st, 2011 at 7:13 am
I actually found your site by searching for “Ramen Noodle Salad” on Google. Pretty funny since you don’t use the noodles in your version 🙂 When I make this salad, I also add some shredded carrot, thinly-sliced snow peas, and/or some thinly sliced red pepper for color. Love your site!