Asian Noodle Salad with a Spicy Sesame Dressing – easy to make, low in calories and bursting with flavor. Once you try this you’ll be craving it all the time.
To describe what’s going on in my heart the past month in a half is hard to quantify. I have questioned a lot of things, including my faith. Why do I believe in this God?
Why does a loving God allow so much hurt?
This world is an absolute mess and it’s just going to get worse. To raise a child in this world scares the crap out of me and I start to fall into this world of fear. What’s going to happen next? Just waiting for the next “blow” to happen…. because it’s going to happen.
The past couple of weeks our pastor has been going through this series called Magnificent. Each week at some point in the message he asks the question “How do you perceive God?”
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the single most important thing about us.” A.W. Tozer
This single question has rocked my world, forced me to ask some real questions, and brought me to tears. What do I believe about God? When I’m in the middle of the trials of life, do I still think he’s good? Do I think he’s faithful? Do I believe he wants the best for me? Does he care?
Honestly, I’m still working through a lot of this in my own head. In my heart I know that he’s faithful, he has proven that over and over again. But in the season of life I’m in right now I don’t feel like it. I know that he is good. But I feel like I need to brace myself for the next blow, a car accident, a sudden death, or news of a sickness. Then the fear sets in.
Here’s the problem. When I start to move my focus from God to other things I start to loose the perception of who God is to me. It starts to get tainted by my fear, worries, or what the world says.
I can easily see how people loose their faith in the midst of trial. When you’re tested or under pressure .. that’s when the real you or truths of what you believe come out. Today I was driving to the gym and had the radio on, when this old song by Jeremy Camp came on. But the words struck a huge chord in my heart. It was exactly what I needed to hear.
Scattered words and empty thoughts
seem to pour from my heart
I’ve never felt so torn before
seems I don’t know where to start
but it’s now that I feel Your grace falls like rain
from every fingertip, washing away my pain
I still believe in Your faithfulness
I still believe in Your truth
I still believe in Your holy word
even when I don’t see, I still believe
Though the questions still fog up my mind
with promises I still seem to bear
even when answers slowly unwind
it’s my heart I see You prepare
but its now that I feel Your grace fall like rain
from every finger tip, washing away my pain
The only place I can go is into your arms
where I throw to you my feeble prayers
in brokeness I can see that this was your will for me
Help me to know You are near
Basics sums up how I’m feeling in life right now. I’m questioning everything and nothing. I know he is good. I know he is faithful.
So here’s my question to you. How do you perceive God?
Ok, now onto the lighter side of things, this Asian Noodle Salad with Spicy Sesame Dressing!
This salad is absolutely perfect for the summer. It is made with light gluten free rice noodles (which I actually think are better than regular noodles), then tossed with loads of fresh veggies for some added crunch and a light spicy sesame dressing that totally takes this noodle salad over the top.
This is a great dish to make for Meatless Monday, served along side a grilled protein or as a side dish for the next summer party you attend! The flavors scream asian flare, it’s easy to make and crazy healthy! I guarantee you’ll love this and be taking it for lunch all next week!
Bon Appetit my friends!
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PinIngredients
- 1lb. rice noodles
- 1 red pepper, julienned
- 1 yellow pepper, julienned
- 1 1/2 cups julienned cucumbers
- 2–3 cups shaved napa cabbage
- 1/3 cup diced green onions
- Spicy Sesame Vinaigrette:
- 6 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoon canola oil
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- 3 tablespoons tamari sauce
- 2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 2/3 cup fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoon fresh ginger
- 2 garlic clove
- 2 teaspoon sriracha sauce
- 2 teaspoon honey
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add toasted sesame oil, canola oil, lime juice, tamari sauce, rice wine vinegar, cilantro, fresh ginger, garlic cloves, sriracha sauce, and honey. Whisk the mixture until everything is combined. Set aside.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add rice noodles and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and rice with cold water. (be careful not to overcook or they will end up really starchy)
- Place the noodles in a large bowl, add red pepper, yellow pepper, cucumbers, napa cabbage, green onions, and spicy sesame dressing. Toss to combine everything.
- Serve warm or cold.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 842 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: easy vegetarian recipes, vegetarian dinner ideas, asian pasta salad
IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, BE SURE TO SNAP A PIC AND HASHTAG IT #JOYFULHEALTHYEATS. I LOVE SEEING WHAT YOU MAKE!
Want More Asian Inspired Recipes?
Asian Chicken Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing
Paleo
Low Carb
Vegan
Whole30
I was looking for an Asian noodle salad recipe and came upon this post. I used the recipe, but I’m more enthralled with your post about our perception of God. It is not often that I run across something like this when I’m browsing internet, and it was a pleasant surprise to see another soul who loves her Abba and is openly seeking to know Him better. Your comments are an inspiration to me and, I’m sure, to many others who will read it. May the Lord continue to lead you onto more and more exciting paths in His presence! As your sis in Him, I love you and appreciate your boldness to speak out.
A believer in North Carolina
As a Buddhist, I don’t see God the same way most people do, but I do respect others’ religious beliefs. Anyhow, I love that this dish is packed with so many vegetables! Love them all!
So glad to hear that. I think we need more of that in the world, agreeing to disagree but coexisting in LOVE! 🙂
That song has a great message! So needed in today’s crazy world.
As for this salad and that dressing – well, it’s exactly the thing I could happily make and eat over and over again.
Definitely Dara! I think we need all the hope we can get right now!
And I’m so with ya on the salad front… this could be my lunch every day this week!
This salad sounds delicious! I am definitely tucking this recipe in my pin board for later!
Awesome! You’ll love it Sharon!
Wow. Deep thoughts and even deeper questions.
I’ll stick to commenting about your Asian noodle salad. I love it, and all the flavors you’ve packed into it!
haha… sorry to go all deep on ya. I’ve just been struggling and this is my way of getting it out. 🙂
Then I ease it up with a tasty recipe hehe … seems to work! 🙂
Beautiful thoughts and a beautiful dish, as always. It’s so easy to get swept up in the “bad” that happening right now. I’ve shed many tears worrying for my sons future, for my friends who put themselves in danger every day. There is still so much beauty in this world. Thanks for the beautiful song lyrics, it helped me as well.
Agreed! Beauty overcomes all. Sometimes I think walking in the opposite spirit helps overcome those fears, I’ve definitely been realizing that over the past couple of days. Glad the lyrics encouraged you too Michelle! 🙂
This noodle salad looks so perfect and light for summer!
Regarding the G*d question… that’s a heavy thing ask. For me, it’s more of a feeling of purposefulness and a lifetime full of lessons.
Thanks so much Laura, it’s definitely perfect for the summer!
You are right, definitely a deep question and it’s been on my mind the past couple of weeks so I wanted to share it. 🙂 I agree I think that if we live lives filled with purpose our hearts will be full, when we have no purpose, goal or thing to hope for we are lost.
What a light & fresh dinner idea! 🙂 And I LOVE that dressing!
Thanks Carrie! 🙂 The dressing definitely is the bomb!
I need more Asian dishes with a lot of flavor! This looks amazing!
Pretty sure we all do… asian dishes just make life better! (so do tex-mex dishes) hehe
Thank You for sharing your recipes. Also thank you for sharing your thoughts that a lot of us are having these days. Enjoyed the words of the song that I have never heard. So glad to know that as you are sharing that you also know that when we get got up in the worries and cares of the world we are not keeping our focus on the one true Loving and caring GOD that we have and its hard to remember that He is in control. Jesus is the best thing in our lives, he is true, he is faithful, He keeps interceding for us to our heavenly Father. God bless you and your family. Keep up your good work. You sound like a beautiful young lady.
Thank you so much LaVonne! You totally encouraged my heart today! Reading this post just made my day. So honored to know people like you read my blog. 🙂 Muah!