Spicy Rice Noodle Salad - 2 Ways | Cotter Crunch- Gluten-Free Recipes (2024)

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Thai Noodle Salad is a healthy rice noodle salad recipe that can be made two ways – with added protein, or as a meatless meal! A gluten free Thai noodle salad is perfect for meal prep. All you need is chopped cabbage, cilantro, peppers, rice noodles, lime, and an Thai style chili sauce to marinate them in!Bonus –> cold rice and rice noodlesare great for your health; read more below!

Spicy Rice Noodle Salad - 2 Ways | Cotter Crunch- Gluten-Free Recipes (1)

2 things that are underappreciated. First, the EASE of this MEAL PREP recipe; seriously can’t go wrong with a crunchy spicy (yet cold) Rice Noodle Salad. It’s been 3 years since I have shared this thai salad recipe. That long, really? Gah, this is a fav SO we updated the photos and recipe for ya!

Secondly, leftovers. Yes the deliciousness of these leftovers for weekday lunch plans makes me happy. There’s something about cold noodles that just makes me happy. Maybe it’s because I used to eat them before 6am volleyball practice during my high school years. Shh… don’t tell my mom, but that was me who always snagged the last bit of leftovers before the rest of my family did. Hey, can you blame me? I grew up with three older brothers, if you didn’t grabfood when you could, you wouldn’t get any, especially NOODLES!

But I digress…

You see, nowadays, things have changed. 10 years of eating gluten free! That means rice noodles, veggie noodles, andchickpea pastaare usually our go to for pasta dishes. Be that it is also end of summer, a cold rice noodle chopped salad with extra thai flavors and spices has become a staple!

Spicy Rice Noodle Salad - 2 Ways | Cotter Crunch- Gluten-Free Recipes (2)

Yes, this salad is a must for those hot days! Especially when you’re training, extra active, or just always on the go! You (we) need thosegoodnutrients and carbohydrates to refuel!

But let me explain something else here. Another reason why we love COLD rice noodle salad:

Can you guess it? Yep –> it’s a resistant starch.

Wait, hold up. I think I should probably go over this RS (resistant starch) thing again. What is it, why do we like eating it?

LET THE NERDY NUTRITION TALK BEGIN!

To sum it up:

Resistant starch is “the sum of starch and products of starch degradation not absorbed in the small intestine of healthy individuals.” Instead of being cleaved in twain by our enzymes and absorbed as glucose, resistant starch (RS) travels untouched through the small intestine into the colon, where colonic gut flora metabolize it into short chain fatty acids. Thus, it’s resistant to digestion by the host. Definition Source via Mark’s Daily Apple

Sounds like a bad thing, right? Actually it’s not. It’s VERY GOOD thing!

Resistant starch can actually HELP improve digestion! How? This type of starch provides more bacteria in the gut because it is resistant to breaking down into sugar/glucose.And newresearch has discovered that if you cook your rice or rice pasta in 1 teaspoon of coconut oil first, it actually increases the RS (resistant starch). So we did just that, a little experimenting with the cooling times too.

Spicy Rice Noodle Salad - 2 Ways | Cotter Crunch- Gluten-Free Recipes (3)

We let the pasta sit overnight, which really helped with the soaking up the spices and flavor. Plus cooling it for 12 hours is the so called “peak time” for resistant starch.

Cooling for 12 hours will lead to formation of hydrogen bonds between the amylose molecules outside the rice grains which also turns it into a resistant starch.

Once the rice noodle salad was cooled, we mixed it up two ways. One with crunchy chopped salad and cabbage, sliced thai peppers, thai chili sauce, and crushed nuts to keep it meatless and vegan.

Spicy Rice Noodle Salad - 2 Ways | Cotter Crunch- Gluten-Free Recipes (4)

The other way I made this salad was by slightly sauteeing the chopped cabbage with sesame oil and a little bit of sweet asian chili sauce. Then I topped each noodle bowl withbeef (for thatextra protein and iron). It was a little less crunchy but also a little more fragrant!

Both nutritious and delicious!The vegetarian option is perfect for that pre workout fuel! Haha carb load. Or wait till after your workout and eat the BEEFY salad for a healthy recovery meal!

See, solving all your “what to eat when” problems here.

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Spicy Rice Noodle Salad - 2 Ways | Cotter Crunch- Gluten-Free Recipes (5)

Spicy Thai Rice Noodle Salad – Gluten Free

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4.6 from 5 reviews

  • Author: Lindsay Cotter
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Spicy Thai Rice Noodle Salad – 2 Ways! This gluten free rice noodle salad is a healthy addition to any meal or you can make it a main meal by adding protein. Vegan option!

Ingredients

Units Scale

  • 8 ounces rice noodles
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons sesame oil, to taste
  • 2 Tablespoons sweet chili pepper sauce
  • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 4 cups chopped cabbage or Asian salad mix (veggies only)
  • 3 to 4 Tablespoons tamari (gluten free soy sauce)
  • 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon minced garlic
  • ¼ cup chopped green onion or chives
  • 3 Tablespoons chopped roasted nuts
  • Garnish – Lime juice, lime slices, cilantro, red pepper flakes
  • Optional Topping – sliced grilled cooked protein of choice (see notes)

Instructions

  1. Cook the rice noodles according to the instructions (about 8 minutes) then rinse in cold water.
  2. After the rice noodles are cooked, place them in a large bowl and add sesame oil, chili sauce, salt and pepper. Gently mix together and place in the fridge to cool. For the best flavor and resistant starch, let it sit for at least an hour.
  3. After the noodles are cooled, stir in the cabbage (leave the cabbage raw or lightly sauté or steam first, if desired) tamari, rice vinegar, garlic, green onion, and nuts.
  4. Add a squeeze of fresh lime juice and cilantro on top. Top with red pepper flakes for extra spice and/or a cooked protein like steak strips, chicken, shrimp or tofu, if desired.
  5. Serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Notes

Nutrition below is for the Thai Rice Noodle Salad no meat added.

  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: 15 min
  • Category: salad
  • Method: stove
  • Cuisine: asian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 296
  • Sugar: 4.7 g
  • Sodium: 776.9 mg
  • Fat: 7.2 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 53.4 g
  • Fiber: 3.5 g
  • Protein: 3.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Let’s recap, eat cold noodles all the livelong day and your gut will be happy! Just kidding. But now you know the GUT HEALTH reasons on whyyou should keep a big batch of cold rice noodles (or any other resistant starch recipe) in your fridge this summer. Oh and why cold leftovers are a blessing. Just sayin..

Spicy Rice Noodle Salad - 2 Ways | Cotter Crunch- Gluten-Free Recipes (6)

Dear rice noodle salad, you just so darn tasty.

Who’s ready to start slurping?

What’s your favorite cold pasta salad dish or noodle salad recipe?

Spicy Rice Noodle Salad - 2 Ways | Cotter Crunch- Gluten-Free Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Do crunchy rice noodles have gluten? ›

Yes, most rice noodles are gluten-free because they contain rice flour and water, although as always, please check the ingredients, just in case. You will find it in most supermarkets as they are traditional in Asian recipes.

Are rice noodles healthier than pasta? ›

Not just vitamin-enriched but even plain pasta has a lot more B-complex vitamins like riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, and folate than rice noodles. However, compared to regular pasta, rice noodles do have one advantage. It's their gluten-free composition.

Are Vietnamese rice noodles gluten-free? ›

Pho is a flavorful Vietnamese soup traditionally made with rice noodles. Rice noodles do not contain gluten, so pho is almost always gluten-free.

Can celiacs eat egg noodles? ›

Egg noodles are made from semolina and durum flour, which are high in gluten. There are a few brands that offer thin gluten-free egg noodles, and Lieber's brand makes gluten-free chow mein egg noodles. Rice noodles also pair well with Asian dishes, and they are made from gluten-free rice flour, so they are celiac safe.

Can celiacs eat Rice Krispies? ›

Due to their malt syrup content, Rice Krispies, as well as store-bought Rice Krispies treats, are off-limits if you're following a gluten-free diet. Many types of Rice Krispies and Rice Krispies treats are made with malt syrup, which contains gluten.

Can celiacs eat Chinese noodles? ›

Noodles: Some noodles may be made from 100% rice flour but some may also have wheat flour added, and are often prepared in soy sauce. Only select noodles made with 100% buckwheat flour if you can ensure they are labeled gluten-free.

Is it OK to eat rice noodles everyday? ›

Rice noodles are naturally low in sodium. While this mineral is an essential nutrient and electrolyte, excess intake may harm your health and increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney disease ( 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ).

Are rice noodles anti inflammatory? ›

First, there is manganese, a mineral your metabolism needs to help regulate blood sugar and reduce inflammation. Rice noodles are also rich in selenium, an antioxidant that helps to protect your body from the risk of cancer, heart disease and many other serious illnesses.

Should I eat rice or noodles for weight loss? ›

Basically they are both sources of carbohydrates. As a comparison, 100 grams of white rice contains 175 calories. The same amount of calories can be found in 50 grams of noodles (dry, uncooked). So for the same amount (eg: 100 grams) noodles will contribute higher calories.

Why is pho not gluten-free? ›

While the rice noodles and meat in pho are naturally gluten-free, the soup can come into contact with gluten during its preparation. For example, if the soup is cooked in a pot that was previously used to make a wheat-based soup, traces of gluten can be left behind and transferred to the pho.

Can celiacs eat pho? ›

Pho is almost always gluten-free, as the broth, rice noodles and vegetables are usually safe for people with celiac disease. Just be sure to use gluten-free condiments. Celiac.com 02/16/2021 - We get a lot of questions about various foods and dishes.

Does pad thai have gluten? ›

Pad Thai is usually gluten-free, but not always. Pad Thai traditionally uses rice noodles (which are gluten-free), but some restaurants use soy-sauce (which may contain wheat) and sometimes fish sauce is added to pad thai (and a few brands of fish sauce contain wheat).

What is surprisingly not gluten-free? ›

Here are some foods likely to contain gluten:
  • Beer, ale and lagers.
  • Bouillon cubes.
  • Brown rice syrup.
  • Candy.
  • Chips.
  • Communion wafers.
  • Couscous.
  • Deli meats.
Aug 7, 2020

Why can't celiacs eat eggs? ›

Yes, eggs are naturally gluten-free.

However, eggs are often at a high risk for cross-contact due to the ways they are prepared.

Can you eat scrambled eggs with celiac disease? ›

If you have celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity, you may find yourself questioning the safety of foods you never gave a second though to before. Fortunately, eggs are one of the many foods that are naturally gluten free.

Are crunchy rice rolls gluten-free? ›

Our conviction to keep ingredients simple extends throughout our crunchy snacks, including the use of organic rice. It's why our entire product line is gluten-free, vegan, certified organic, and non-GMO. It doesn't get much simpler than that.

Is crispy pad thai gluten-free? ›

In short, traditional pad thai ingredients are naturally gluten-free, but before you order pad thai at a restaurant, be sure to ask for a list of ingredients and inquire about their prep space.

Do rice noodles for pad thai have gluten? ›

Pad Thai is usually gluten-free, but not always. Pad Thai traditionally uses rice noodles (which are gluten-free), but some restaurants use soy-sauce (which may contain wheat) and sometimes fish sauce is added to pad thai (and a few brands of fish sauce contain wheat).

Is ramen with rice noodles gluten-free? ›

Traditional ramen noodles are not gluten-free, but you can find gluten-free alternatives made from rice, potato, millet, or other gluten-free flours online—you may even be able to find them at your local grocery store in the global or international food aisle. Be sure to buy ramen noodles labeled gluten-free.

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