Cold noodles tossed in a nutty, spicy and sweet sesame sauce. Ready in 15 minutes from start to finish – and so much better than takeout!
It’s hard to beat a good bowl of noodles wouldn’t you agree?
Whenever I’m faced with a menu that has an extensive noodles section, it always take me longer to make a decision. Do I go for pizza or pasta? Do I want a bowl of ramen or chicken katsu? Can I get both? It’s a conundrum.
With Chinese food, I find it even more confusing since I could live solely on their noodle preparations. One of my favorites is cold sesame noodles. I’ll usually get an order as an appetizer and save some for the following couple of days.
Since I don’t like them too sweet (some sesame noodles are too peanut buttery), I fix them with a little soy sauce, chili garlic sauce and vinegar. This way they taste closer to the real thing just like I did for this sesame noodles recipe.
If you’ve gone to mainland China or Taiwan you will recognize the mix of spicy, nutty, acidic and umami flavors. It’s much more satisfying!
Making cold sesame noodles is very simple:
- Boil the noodles and rinse them under cold water.
- Make the sesame sauce.
- Toss the noodles with the sauce.
- Top with fresh cucumber slices and peanuts.
Enjoy!
More easy, better than takeout Chinese recipes:
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Did you like this recipe? Are there changes you made that you would like to share? Share your tips and recommendations in the comments section below!
PrintChilled Sesame Noodles
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 people 1x
- Category: Noodles
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Chinese
Description
Nutty, sweet and a little spicy, these chilled sesame noodles are ready in just 15 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh or frozen Chinese egg noodles
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 cup English cucumber, peeled, seeded, and sliced into sticks
- 1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts (optional)
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Chinese sesame paste or tahini
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce
Instructions
- Cook noodles according to directions on the package (about 5 minutes in boiling water).
- Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add sesame oil and toss well.
- Whisk all the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl and add to the noodles. Toss until noodles are
- evenly coated.
- Top with cucumber and/or peanuts and serve.
Notes
Keep the leftover sesame noodles in a storage container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 337
- Sugar: 5.2g
- Sodium: 349mg
- Fat: 16.4
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5.6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37.6g
- Fiber: 3.6g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 33mg
I love this sauce! I agree that usually it is too peanutty, and using the tahini makes these so delicious! I am always trying to add more veggies to meals, so I add matchstick or shredded carrots, and matchstick red peppers and mix them in. This is the perfect summer meal!
Thank you so much, Ann! 🙂
Looks great! A few boiled bok-choy leaves would be a great addition to it.
I make something similar- will be trying your recipe this week! I add a couple more veg in to quickly steam with the last minute or two with my noodles. Carrots, bok Choi, green beans… but purple cabbage umm… not recommended as it turns everything grey!
Great tip Christine! It’s true that the prettier the dish looks, the more delectable it is 🙂