She Strengthens

Slurp-Worthy Noodles from Around the World

When it comes to noodles, our minds often wander to Italy, but today we’re shifting our focus to the East. Countries like Thailand, Japan, and China have given us some of the most mouth-watering, slurp-worthy dishes out there. And the best part? Most Asian noodle recipes take less time to cook than their Italian counterparts, so you win in both flavor and prep time.

Soba Noodles: A Delicious and Versatile Option

1. Cilantro Lime Chicken Soba Noodle Bowls: Bright and zesty, these noodles are tossed in a dressing made with cumin, chili powder, cilantro, and lime. With chicken and fresh veggies mixed in, this is an easy 30-minute meal.
2. Super-Simple Garlic and Shrimp Soba Noodles: Whip up this quick meal when you’re short on time. Coated lightly in sesame oil and simple ingredients like garlic and ginger, it’s equally delicious served hot or chilled.
3. Summery Soba Noodles: Celebrate the warm season with these soba noodles mixed with spiralized zucchini, fresh corn, nectarines, avocado, and mango. Tossed in a creamy dressing, this is the perfect refreshing lunch or dinner.
4. Jade Noodles: With edamame, broccoli, snow peas, and asparagus, this protein-rich meal is a nutritious gem. Soy beans and tofu make an appearance, making it a meat-free delight.
5. Salmon Soba Bowls With Miso Ginger Broth: Comfort food that’s not fried chicken and waffles? This single-serving salmon soba bowl is just what the doctor ordered.
6. Delicata Squash and Kale Soba Noodle Salad: Proving soba works well in any season, this salad features fall’s favorite produce alongside the noodles, with a tahini dressing tying everything together.
7. Green Soba Bowl With Olive and Sesame Yogurt: A fusion of Japanese and Mediterranean diets, this recipe wins at the whole “healthy” thing. Soba noodles are covered in a tahini and herb dressing, then tossed with zucchini, pine nuts, and olives.
8. Creamy Buckwheat Noodles: Delicate soba noodles hold up well to this light, dairy-free pesto. Spiralized zucchini accompany the strands of buckwheat, giving you a noodle-y bang for your buck.

Udon Noodles: Chewy and Delicious

9. Kimchi Udon Noodle Stir-Fry: Get your gut health in check with this chewy, spicy, tangy kimchi stir-fry. Add an optional soft-boiled egg on top for extra protein and nom factor.
10. Beef Tomato Udon Soup: Udon noodles in a creamy tomato soup may raise an eyebrow, but don’t knock it ’til you try it. Especially with beef and bacon involved.
11. Healthy Udon Pesto Salad: Treat udon like Italian pasta in this primavera-style mix of veggies, herbs, and nuts. Avocado and prepared pesto lend a creamy contrast.
12. Slow-Cooker Asian Beef and Udon Noodle Soup: Combine an Asian-inspired roast with udon, and you have an insanely hearty dinner. The meat gets tender over eight hours in the slow cooker.
13. Chilled Udon Noodle Salad With Avocado Wasabi Dressing: Jazz up traditional chilled udon with some veggies and a creamy, avocado-based dressing. With just five main ingredients, you get a whole new dish.
14. One-Pot Udon and Zucchini Noodle Curry Bowls: Expect a Thai curry from the name, but the coconut and red curry paste form a thick sauce that works perfectly with the chewy udon noodles.
15. Teriyaki Salmon With Udon Noodles: Need a quick meal? This 20-minute recipe is your answer. A homemade teriyaki-style sauce keeps the sugar under control for the salmon marinade.

Rice Noodles: A Buddha Bowl Favorite

16. Kung Pao Chicken Noodle Bowl: It may look like a lot of ingredients, but this recipe is really just a lot of the same components getting used multiple times. Plus, it’s much easier to make than it appears.
17. Rice Noodles With Broccoli and Chickpeas: Form the base of this Buddha bowl-like creation with rice noodles, then top with broccoli, chickpeas, and a dollop of sunflower seed sour cream.
18. Vegan Tofu Rice Noodle Salad: With tons of fresh veggies, silken tofu, and a sauce made from basic Asian ingredients, this no-cook salad is all about clean and simple flavors.
19. Chicken Stir-Fry With Rice Noodles: Sometimes you just need a straightforward stir-fry, and this one delivers in taste, ease, and health.
20. Potsticker Noodle Bowls: Deconstruct potstickers with rice noodles and tamari instead of wonton wrappers and soy sauce. Ground pork, shredded cabbage, and egg mixture ensure it still tastes like the dumpling filling.

Ramen Noodles: A Flavorful and Versatile Option

21. 15-Minute Vegan Pad Thai: Doing away with egg, fish sauce, and shrimp, this pad Thai uses tofu for protein and plenty of lime juice, chili paste, peanut butter, and soy for serious flavor.
22. Vegan Singapore Noodles: A Southeast Asian fast food goes meat- and grease-free in this recipe. Singapore noodles are famously doused in oil, but this version uses just two tablespoons.
23. Crunchy Asian Ramen Noodle Salad: You know that crispy fried noodle topping at the salad bar? Here’s a whole plateful you can enjoy, since the ramen noodles are baked instead and tossed in an equally crunchy mix.
24. Thai Chicken Ramen: Thai curry can be tricky to replicate at home, but this recipe does it with the help of ramen packets and more wholesome items like light coconut milk and fresh cilantro.
25. 20-Minute Sriracha Shrimp Ramen: Ramen noodle soup is generally known as being more robust than its soba or udon-based counterparts, but this recipe is extra-flavorful. Spicy and savory, it’s a must-try.
26. Ramen Noodle Stir-Fry: Nix the flavoring packets that usually come with instant ramen, and opt for a homemade sauce made with basic Asian ingredients. Pour it on to a pile of sautéed veggies and throw a scrambled egg in for protein.
27. Speedy Miso Spinach Mushroom Ramen: If you love the chewy texture of ramen noodles but don’t love the often-greasy soups, go for this lighter alternative. With a veggie broth and just enough miso paste, this recipe lets you have your ramen and eat it too.
28. Vegan Ramen in a South Indian Coconut Stew: Noodles may not be common in Indian cuisine, but maybe they should be, given how well ramen works in this South Asian-style coconut curry.
29. Brussels Sprout and Onion Tomato Ramen: Instead of swimming in its typical broth, the ramen here is sautéed with veggies and miso paste for a quick and easy dry noodle dish. The tomato and Brussels sprout combo is a must-make.