Recipe Background
Crunchy, nutty salad with a tangy-sweet dressing and toasted ramen.
Crunchy, nutty, and refreshingly crisp—this million dollar salad brings unexpected textures together in a delightful medley. Tossed with a tangy-sweet dressing, each bite offers a blend of toasted noodles and sesame seeds, underlining the cabbage’s fresh crunch. It’s not just a salad; it’s a symphony of contrasts, playing harmoniously on the taste buds.
Cooking a salad like this isn't just about assembling ingredients. Toasting the ramen, almonds, and sesame seeds in the oven deepens their flavors in a way stovetop cooking often can't. Aim for a light golden hue—stirring often to balance just-right toasting without crossing into bitterness. The technique is simple yet elevates this salad to something you’ll crave again and again.
Whether you’re sharing with friends or enjoying on a quiet afternoon, this salad fits any occasion with its surprising complexity and satisfying texture. The dressing, with its sweet and tangy notes, wraps everything in a light, welcoming embrace. This dish proves that even a humble salad can offer a little dash of luxury to everyday meals.
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
For the salad:
- 2 (3-ounce) packages ramen noodles lightly crushed, flavor packets removed
- 1 cup sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup almonds slivered
- 1 head napa cabbage chopped
- 1 bunch green onions chopped
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Whisk the oil, the sugar, the vinegar, and the soy sauce together in a bowl until the sugar dissolves.
- Refrigerate the dressing until needed.
- Spread the broken ramen noodles onto a baking sheet with the sesame seeds and the almonds.
- Bake the ramen noodle mixture, stirring often and watching carefully to prevent burning, until lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture from the oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Mix the cabbage, the green onions, and the toasted ramen mixture together in a salad bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Add the dressing and toss to coat.
- Serve.
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