2teaspoons chile-garlic paste, chile crisp or chile oil, or to taste
Half a cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into ⅛-inch by ⅛-inch by 2-inch sticks
¼cup chopped roasted peanuts
797 milligrams of sodium; 90 grams of carbohydrates; 6 grams of dietary fiber; 7 grams of sugars; 22 grams of protein; 628 calories; 21 grams of fat; 4 grams of saturated fat; 0 grams of trans fat; 8 grams of monounsaturated fat; 7 grams of polyunsaturated fat;
Note: Based on ingredients and preparation that are readily available, Edamam has estimated the data displayed. It shouldn’t be used as a replacement for advice from a qualified nutritionist.
Step 1Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add noodles and cook until barely tender, about 5 minutes. They should retain a hint of chewiness. Drain, rinse with cold water, drain again and toss with a splash of sesame oil.
Step 2In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons sesame oil, the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame paste, peanut butter, sugar, ginger, garlic and chili-garlic paste.
Step 3Pour the sauce over the noodles and toss. Transfer to a serving bowl, and garnish with cucumber and peanuts.
The Chinese sesame paste called for here is made of toasted sesame seeds; it is not the same as tahini, the Middle Eastern paste made of plain, untoasted sesame. But you could use tahini in a pinch. You need only add a little toasted sesame oil to compensate for flavor, and perhaps some peanut butter to keep the sauce emulsified.
How To Make Sesame Noodles:
To make these sesame noodles, simply:
Cook your pasta. Whatever kind of pasta you choose, just cook it al dente according to package instructions.
Whisk together the sauce. Meanwhile, as the pasta is cooking, whisk all of your sauce ingredients together in a small bowl until combined.
Toss everything together. Then once the pasta’s ready to go, drain it completely. Then toss it with the sauce and green onions.
Taste and season. See if it needs any extra salt, pepper, sesame oil and/or chili garlic sauce.
Serve warm or cold. Then serve the noodles up right away if you’d like, garnished with your favorite toppings. Or — transfer them to a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
What Are Sesame Noodles Made Of?
Here’s what you’ll need to make sesame noodles.
Noodles: Thin, dried wheat noodles work best here because they cook up chewy and don’t get too gloppy or gummy when tossed with the sauce. My favorite are Taiwanese noodles called kuan miao. Skip the noodles that contain egg. In a pinch, you can use dried udon noodles instead.
Peanut butter: While sesame noodles used to contain just or mostly sesame paste, modern versions start with peanut butter. The smooth peanut butter coats the noodles really well and adds a great depth of flavor.
Chinese sesame paste: Sesame paste is a key ingredient here to round out the sauce, even though you don’t need a lot. Chinese sesame paste is made from darkly roasted sesame seeds, and tastes different than tahini, which is made from unroasted or lightly roasted sesame seeds and has a more bitter flavor.
Sesame oil: A good spoonful of toasted sesame oil helps thin out the nut butter and adds a delicious toastiness.
Aromatics: Minced ginger, garlic, and scallions add lots of fresh flavor. Chop the ginger and garlic as finely as you can.
Sugar: The sweet notes in this recipe come from a spoonful of granulated sugar.
Soy sauce and rice vinegar: Soy sauce and rice vinegar help thin out the sauce and add savory and acidic notes to balance everything out.
Garnishes: Sesame seeds, scallion greens, and roasted peanuts add some crunch and color to the finished noodles. You can also toss in matchstick-cut cucumber for some refreshing bites.
FAQ
What is sesame noodles made of?
Using thin spaghetti or ramen, a sweet and savory sauce with lots of flavor, crunchy peanuts, and sesame seeds, this dish is incredibly easy to make.
Do sesame noodles contain gluten?
Simple Sesame Noodles (gluten-free!) These Asian noodles will become a new family favorite because they take only 15 minutes to prepare and are the ideal side dish or vegetarian meal.
What is Chinese sesame sauce made of?
Zh ma jiàng, also known as Chinese sesame paste, is a thick paste with a robust flavor that is made from toasted white sesame seeds. While you may be familiar with tahini, a sesame seed paste from the Middle East and Mediterranean region, it differs from Chinese sesame paste in that it contains unhulled, raw sesame seeds.
How does sesame sauce taste like?
The paste, which is made from hulled, finely ground sesame seeds, has the consistency of natural peanut butter and tastes nutty, rich, and slightly bitter. It is light brown in color.
