5X a fresh noodle salad

Noodles are no longer just cheap for students. They are trendier and healthier than ever. Thanks to our friends at FavorFlav we now know how to whip up the five tastiest variations. And what's really surprising is: we eat our noodles cold. Perfect for summer.

When you think of noodles, you might picture a bowl of warm strands with greasy sauce. I do too when it's cold outside. As soon as the sun shines, I prefer to eat my noodles cold. Move over pasta salad, cold noodles are your new favorite food to take to the park.

First of all, a tip that applies to all these recipes: rinse the noodles well under cold water after cooking. This prevents them from overcooking and you end up chewing on soggy noodles. Yuck. Warm noodles also absorb more sauce than cold noodles. Especially when you're taking them with you, you don't want the sauce to have completely soaked in and have a dry bite in your container. So go for the cold version. Take any crunchy toppings in a sandwich bag and add them at the last moment. Enjoy your meal!

Spicy oil with spring onion

This is one of my absolute favorites. Not surprising, because I love chili oil and spring onion on every dish. My WhatsApp status is not for nothing ‘The Asian for every occasion’. With this recipe, you make an oil of chili and spring onion: double enjoyment. My advice: double the oil recipe, it also works well over rice or a fried egg. Actually, over everything.

Sesame noodles with chicken

These noodles are tossed in a sauce of sesame oil and paste after cooking, and thanks to the vinegar in the sauce, the noodles are not only savory but also pleasantly fresh. Don't feel like making the chicken first? You can also fry cubes of tofu and mix them in, or use leftover chicken.

Grilled eggplant and tomatoes

Craving Mediterranean flavors with your noodles? Martha Stewart’s got your back. This soba salad with grilled eggplant and tomatoes is what you're having for dinner tonight.

Rice noodles with shrimp

These rice noodles combined with a fresh Vietnamese dressing make the ideal summer meal. Just add some shrimp, ground pork, and crunchy peanuts or fried onions, and you're done.

Green tea noodles with spicy sauce

This one is not very suitable for taking with you, as the noodles tend to stick together quickly, but at home, this recipe with green tea noodles is a real winner. Don't worry if you can't find green noodles; soba works just fine. The sauce is based on Korean chili paste gochujang and is quite spicy. You serve the noodles and sauce side by side. Time to dip!

Text: FavorFlav