Chicken Free Basil-Herb Kelp Noodle Salad
Bright, herby, and refreshingly light, this kelp noodle salad is the kind of dish that looks stunning on the table without requiring much effort at all. Kelp noodles are a brilliant base — naturally low-calorie, gluten-free, and completely plant-based, they soak up the vibrant pesto beautifully after a quick apple cider vinegar bath that softens them into silky, pliable strands. The homemade pesto here skips the usual nuts and cheese entirely, relying instead on fresh basil, parsley, garlic, lemon, and a warm hint of turmeric and ginger to create something genuinely complex and aromatic. Shaved zucchini ribbons and cool cucumber half-moons add crunch and freshness that make every forkful feel like a proper summer meal. Because everything is blended and tossed together from whole, recognizable ingredients, there's no guesswork about what's actually in your bowl — just clean, bold flavors you put together yourself. It works equally well as a main or a generous side, and the leftovers hold up surprisingly well in the fridge for a next-day lunch.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the salad
- 12 oz kelp noodles
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp salt, divided
- 1 medium zucchini, shaved into thin ribbons with a vegetable peeler
- 1 english cucumber, thinly sliced into half-moons
For the pesto
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
- ¼ cup fresh parsley leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp salt
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, torn (optional)
- lemon wedges (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Rinse the kelp noodles under cold running water in a colander, then transfer them to a large mixing bowl. Add the apple cider vinegar, 1/2 tsp of the salt, and enough cold water to submerge the noodles. Let them soak for 15 minutes, until noticeably softened and pliable.
- 2
While the noodles soak, combine the basil, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, turmeric, ginger, and 1/4 tsp salt in a food processor or blender. Pulse 5–6 times to roughly chop the herbs and garlic, then stream in the olive oil with the motor running and process until the pesto is smooth and bright green, about 30 seconds.
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