When the summer heat hits, there’s nothing better than a refreshing cold noodle dish to cool you down. These recipes are perfect for when you want something light, quick, and full of flavor. Packed with fresh ingredients and simple to prepare, these dishes will keep you cool and satisfied all season long.
Balsamic Tofu Pasta Salad
Tofu pasta salad is an easy, light, and healthy meal or side dish. It’s bursting with fresh summer vegetables and a simple balsamic dressing. A protein-packed way to enjoy pasta salad and keep it plant-based, perfect for hot summer days.
Get the Recipe: Balsamic Tofu Pasta Salad
Greek Pasta Salad
This Greek pasta salad is a healthy spin on the classic side dish. Filled with fresh veggies, it’s a great option for a refreshing summer meal.
Get the Recipe: Greek Pasta Salad
Summer Rolls with Tofu and Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce
Fresh and light, these Vietnamese-inspired vegan summer rolls are perfect for a refreshing summer meal. Filled with tofu, cucumber, lettuce, mint, and cilantro, and paired with a spicy peanut dipping sauce, they are a great way to cool down.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Summer Rolls with Tofu and Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce
Garlic Chili Oil Noodles
These garlic chili oil noodles are quick and easy, ready in just 10 minutes. They combine garlic, soy sauce, and chili flakes with chewy noodles, making them a great choice for hot summer days.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Chili Oil Noodles (10-Minute Recipe)
Easy Cold Soba Noodles
This cold soba noodle dish features buckwheat noodles and a tea-infused dipping sauce. Light and refreshing, it’s perfect for hot days and easy enough for anyone to make.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cold Soba Noodles (Zaru Soba)
Noodle Salad
These cold sesame noodles are quick and simple, featuring chewy noodles and fresh veggies in a light sesame-soy dressing. Ready in just 15 minutes, they’re great for cooling off in the summer.
Get the Recipe: Noodle Salad [Cold Sesame Noodles]
Korean Cold Noodles
Bibim guksu is a spicy and refreshing Korean cold noodle dish. With thin, chewy wheat noodles and a vibrant sauce, it’s full of flavor and perfect for warm weather. Ready in under 15 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Bibim Guksu (Korean Cold Noodles)
Easy 10-Minute Kongguksu (Cold Soy Milk Noodle Soup)
This quick kongguksu, or Korean cold soy milk noodle soup, uses tofu and store-bought soy milk. With only the noodles needing cooking, it’s a perfect way to beat the heat in just 10 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Easy 10-Minute Kongguksu (Cold Soy Milk Noodle Soup)
Vietnamese Beef Vermicelli Bowl
Bún bò xào is a quick and easy Vietnamese meal with fresh herbs, flavorful lemongrass beef, rice noodles, and a sweet tangy fish sauce dressing. Ready in less than 30 minutes, this dish is great for hot summer days.
Get the Recipe: Bún Bò Xào/Bún Bò Nam Bộ (Vietnamese Beef Vermicelli Bowl)
Salmon Soba Noodle Salad
This salmon soba noodle salad features moist salmon fillets with crispy skin over soba noodles and veggies. Served with a ginger dressing, it’s a healthy and delicious salad that’s ready in under 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Salmon Soba Noodle Salad
Soba Noodle Salad with Cucumber and Peanuts
Soba noodle salad with salted cucumber and toasted peanuts is a perfect side dish for summer. It’s light, refreshing, and pairs well with many main dishes.
Get the Recipe: Soba Noodle Salad with Cucumber and Peanuts
Ramen Noodle Salad
With a balance of salty and sweet, this ramen noodle salad features fresh vegetables, sweet oranges, and crunchy toasted ramen. A great way to cool down on a hot day.
Get the Recipe: Ramen Noodle Salad
Vegan Thai Noodle Salad
This vegan Thai noodle salad is full of vegetables and mango in a light, tasty dressing. It’s a perfect cold noodle dish for summer.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Thai Noodle Salad
Shaved Purple Asparagus & Asian Vegetable Soba Noodles
A beautiful shaved purple asparagus and Asian vegetable soba noodle recipe that’s both elegant and fresh. This gluten-free and vegan dish is perfect for a healthy dinner or lunch.
Get the Recipe: Shaved Purple Asparagus & Asian Vegetable Soba Noodles
Vegetarian Japchae
This 1-pan vegan japchae is an easy way to make a Korean glass noodle stir-fry. With chewy noodles, vibrant veggies, and a sweet soy sauce, it’s perfect as a main dish or side. Can be enjoyed hot or cold.
Get the Recipe: 1-Pan Vegan Japchae (Korean Glass Noodle Stir Fry)
Spicy Peanut Soba Noodles
Super easy 20-minute spicy peanut soba noodles because there’s nothing better than carbs and veggies covered in a delicious peanut sauce. Perfect for a quick summer meal.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Peanut Soba Noodles
Asian Cold Sesame Noodles
This Asian cold sesame noodles recipe tastes deliciously nutty without any nuts. It’s nut-free, easy to make, and perfect for a light summer meal.
Get the Recipe: Asian Cold Sesame Noodles (Nut Free)
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
