Rice Free Basil-Herb Kelp Noodle Salad
Kelp noodles are the unsung hero of grain-free and starch-free cooking, delivering a satisfying, noodle-like texture without a single grain of rice in sight. A quick soak in apple cider vinegar and cold water transforms them from firm and translucent to soft and pliable — no cooking required. The real star here is the vibrant blender pesto, built from fresh basil, parsley, garlic, lemon, and a warm undercurrent of turmeric and ginger that makes it taste far more complex than the effort involved. Shaved zucchini ribbons and cool cucumber half-moons add crunch and freshness, turning this into a full salad rather than just a noodle dish. Everything comes together in one big bowl with a generous toss, making cleanup almost as easy as the prep. It's bright, herby, and deeply satisfying — the kind of dish that doesn't feel like it's missing anything, because it genuinely isn't.
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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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