Zesty Jalapeno Top Ramen Salad

Zesty Jalapeno Top Ramen Salad offers a southern twist on a classic Top Ramen Salad with jalapenos, chipotle chile pepper, and pepitas. 

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Top Ramen Salad is one of those quirky salads that’s oddly satisfying. Shredded coleslaw, uncooked ramen noodles, sliced green onion and slivered almonds dressed with a simple vinaigrette makes one delicious – albeit quirky – salad.

Who was this person who thought to add uncooked ramen noodles to a salad? It’s a seemingly random addition, but it works beautifully. Rather than feeling like chomping on raw spaghetti, the ramen noodles soften as they absorb the vinaigrette but avoid becoming unpleasantly mushy. The result is a really lovely ramen coleslaw.

What ingredients do you need to make ramen coleslaw?

To make this Zesty Jalapeno Top Ramen Salad you will need:

INGREDIENTS  

• 1 package pre-shredded coleslaw mix
• 2 packages ramen noodles
• 1 cup pepitas (toasted or untoasted)
• 1 bunch green onion, thinly sliced

This ramen coleslaw recipe also features a fantastic and zesty homemade jalapeno vinaigrette. Use this easy jalapeno vinaigrette recipe:

Zesty Jalapeno Vinaigrette Recipe

• 2-3 jalapenos, diced, seeds removed
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/3 cup white vinegar
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp chipotle chile pepper
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

Putting it Together

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Add 2-3 diced jalapenos, 1/2 cup canola oil, 1/3 cup white vinegar, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile pepper to a food processor and process for 30 – 40 seconds.
2. Put both packages of ramen noodles into a gallon size bag and remove as much air as you can. Use a rolling pin to crush the noodles into smaller pieces.
3. Dump the crushed ramen, coleslaw mix, pepitas, and sliced green onion into a large bowl.
4. Pour all of the dressing over the coleslaw mix and stir until combined.
5. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours before serving. This allows enough time for the ramen noodles to soften but still retain some crunch.
6. Add a few dashes of salt and pepper right before serving, to taste. This salad is best eaten within 24 hours.

Many Top Ramen Salad recipes call for a simple homemade dressing of oil, vinegar, and sugar, and oftentimes soy sauce. I decided to take a few liberties and take it a zestier route. I stayed true to the basic ingredients but spiced it up with fresh jalapeno and chipotle chile pepper to make this homemade jalapeno vinaigrette.

While slivered almonds are often the nut of choice in Top Ramen Salad, I swapped them out for pepitas (as an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from your purchase). With just a couple of tweaks, you too can have your own unique spin with this Zesty Jalapeno Top Ramen Salad. 

How long is ramen coleslaw good for?

The freshness countdown begins once you add the dressing to the top ramen salad. The crunchy ramen and crisp coleslaw can stand up to the vinaigrette stoically for many hours, but ideally you’ll want to eat within 24 hours for optimal crunch. I think the sweet spot for this salad is between 4-24 hours.

If you like this ramen coleslaw recipe, you’ll most definitely like: 

• Corny Quinoa Salad
• Kohlrabi Slaw with Lemon Vinaigrette
• Tex-Mex Pasta Salad
• Sweet and Spicy Coleslaw Dressing

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