With every passing day, the temperature is rising and beating the record of the previous day. The temptation to eat something chilled for each meal is irresistible. However, as Indians, we all can agree that no meal is complete without food that has vibrant textures and spices. Now the dilemma is to look for the kind of meals that are not served hot and yet savoury and flavourful.
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Asian cuisine is diverse and dynamic. There are ample dishes for both summer and winter. Most people are already acquainted with these multiple noodle dishes that are available in Asian cuisine. However, the mainstream and popular noodle dishes are served warm. In this article, one will get to know about some cold noodle dishes that can be consumed in the summer as they are flavourful and will also keep one cool throughout the season.
* Chinese Sesame Noodles
The Chinese sesame noodles or ma jiang mian as they are called in the local language are a flavourful concoction of scallions, garlic, toasted, sesame seed, and some chilli oil. The sesame seed sauce is also generously used to make these light and flavourful noodles. The cold sesame noodles are mixed with all these ingredients along with some vinegar and soya sauce to make a delightful summer meal. It is flavourful, savoury, and fulfilling.
* Italian Pasta Salad
Traditionally, pasta is served with a lot of tomato sauce, and Italian herbs, and is warm at the time of eating. However, in the past few years, the pasta salad recipe has become extremely popular and is thoroughly enjoyed by people during summer. This pasta salad is made by mixing boiled pasta with freshly chopped vegetables like spring onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, and some vinaigrette dressing. The best part about this salad is that it can be customised as per one preference. If available, one may use cherry tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, and different types of bell peppers to make it more flavourful and Italian in true essence.
* Thai Glass Noodles
Popularly also known as the cellphone noodles or bean thread noodles, glass noodles are a conspicuous part of Thai cuisine. These are almost consumed regularly and made by combining the translucent glass noodles also known as Yum Woon Sen with a robust dressing that is made from fresh fish sauce, chilli paste, and lime juice. The final step is to season them with some fresh Thai herbs and crunchy seasonal vegetables along with either chicken or grilled shrimp. This tropical extravaganza is a burst of different flavours and just what one needs to calm the body on a hot summer day.
* Vietnamese Cold Noodles
Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country that is famous for an array of noodle dishes. One such cold noodle dish that is very famous in Vietnam is called bun cha gio. These are cold vermicelli noodles topped with a lot of spring rolls, fresh herbs, grilled pork, and along with a tangy sauce. The use of so many different types of ingredients brings out a very ambiguous yet united flavour as well as texture to the dish. It is refreshing and extremely satisfying. The dish has to be garnished with sliced chillies, crushed peanuts, and some lime juice.
* Naengmyeon
Naengmyeon is a noodle dish from Korea that is made by using long and chewy noodles made from buckwheat flour. In some variants, these noodles are also made from potato starch. The noodles are mixed with a spicy broth made from different types of sauces like chilli sauce and soya sauce. Traditionally, the noodles are garnished with a lot of cucumbers, hard-boiled eggs and pickled radish. The right way to make this dish is to combine cold noodles with a mixture of sauces and other necessary ingredients. The assimilation of all these ingredients brings together an extremely refreshing and flavourful summer dish.
* Soba Noodles
The Japanese soba noodles are also made from buckwheat flour and are a very pivotal part of Japanese cuisine. These are specifically served during the hot summer months. The soba noodles are packed with a lot of fibre and protein. The taste of these noodles is very light and a little bit nutty. These are dipped in a special sauce called tsuyu which simply translates into a chilled broth. For garnishing, people like to use ingredients like sliced green onions, nori seaweed, and grated radish. It is a very refreshing and light meal for summer that is also filled with important nutrients