These super-slurpable Chinese language Sesame Noodles characteristic bouncy, chewy noodles coated in a savory, nutty sauce with simply the correct quantity of tang and warmth. Because of a cautious mix of highly effective Chinese language pantry staples, this flavor-packed dish comes collectively shortly and will get extra scrumptious with each chunk!
Filled with creamy, chewy textures and wealthy, indulgent flavors, you received’t be capable to put down your fork (or chopsticks!).
Desk of Contents:
1. Why this recipe works
2. Ingredient notes
3. Step-by-step directions
4. Suggestions for making this recipe
5. Continuously Requested Questions
6. Recipe card with notes
Why this recipe works
Loopy good sauce.
The key to this sauce is the advanced flavors of Chinese language delicacies mainstays. Chinese language sesame paste (affiliate hyperlink) makes for a roasty, nutty base that brings soy sauce’s highly effective savoriness to life. Wealthy, toasted sesame oil and funky, advanced Chinese language black vinegar add daring, layered flavors whereas chili sauce provides a sassy kick.
Huge taste, straightforward to make.
As you cook dinner your noodles, shortly grate some contemporary garlic and ginger. Whisk these in with the liquid elements for kick and sharpness, and add agave to stability out the acidity. As soon as every little thing is prepared, combine the sauce and noods, then toss in a couple of handfuls of edamame, sesame seeds, peanuts, and your favourite uncooked veggies.
Straightforward to customise.
Though Chinese language chilly sesame noodles are historically eaten as a cooling summer season aspect dish, they’re well-rounded sufficient to be a foremost dish too. Combine in your favourite veggies for a nutrient-rich meal and prime it off with edamame or tofu plus peanuts for extra protein.
Relating to garnishes, get inventive! Preserve it easy with scallions and toasted sesame oil, or fold in chopped cilantro and bean sprouts, plus chili crisp or contemporary sliced chilies for warmth.
Ingredient notes
Chinese language sesame paste
The principle occasion! This wealthy, thick paste is made out of ground-up roasted sesame seeds. It’d sound the identical as tahini however it’s not. It affords darker, nuttier, stronger flavors and tastes extra like peanut butter than tahini.
As this weblog publish from The Woks of Life explains, the sesame seeds in Chinese language sesame paste are toasted, whereas tahini is made out of uncooked sesame seeds. This toasting provides Chinese language sesame paste the daring flavors best for this flavor-forward dish.
The place to purchase: You should purchase Chinese language sesame paste at East Asian grocery shops (I get mine at HMart) or on-line (affiliate hyperlink).
Substitutes: Whereas Chinese language sesame paste is value in search of out IMO, I do know a variety of of us received’t have entry to it.
So I like to recommend utilizing half peanut butter (ideally easy however crunchy might be fantastic; however by no means sweetened) and half tahini to start out (1.5 tbsp every). It’s also possible to mess around with different ratios (for instance, two tablespoons of peanut butter and one tablespoon of tahini).
Soy sauce
This umami-forward pantry staple provides heaps of satisfying savoriness! I take advantage of Chinese language gentle soy sauce, which is like saltier grocery-store soy sauce, in addition to Chinese language darkish soy sauce, which is richer and sweeter.
The combo kick issues up a notch flavor-wise and given how cheap they’re and the way lengthy they final in your fridge, I like to recommend in search of them at your native East Asian grocery retailer or on-line (affiliate hyperlink). You would possibly typically see darkish soy sauce bought as mushroom darkish soy sauce.
Substitute: You may substitute each with common grocery retailer soy sauce, or tamari or gluten-free soy sauce.
Chinese language black vinegar
There’s nothing fairly like Chinese language black vinegar. It provides earthy, tart, and subtly candy notes plus an enormous kick of umami and a posh tang. Plus, because it’s fermented, it lasts for ages within the fridge! Use it in my Braised Tofu recipe. Chinkiang vinegar is the commonest number of Chinese language black vinegar I’ve seen within the states.
Substitutes: Rice vinegar and Shaoxing wine (Chinese language cooking wine) work in a pinch. If fully gluten-free, use rice vinegar, as Chinese language black vinegar and Shaoxing wine sometimes have small quantities of grain.
Toasted sesame oil
The wealthy, nutty taste and mouthfeel of toasted sesame oil makes this dish completely heavenly. Ottogi’s premium roasted sesame oil is my favourite, by far (affiliate hyperlink).
Contemporary noodles
We examined this recipe with a couple of totally different noodles, and whereas they have been tasty with all of the noodle varieties we tried, contemporary udon noodles have been my favourite. They’re chewy, bouncy, and slurpy, they usually’re the shining star of my Spicy Chili Garlic Noodles and Gochujang Noodles.
I additionally tried this recipe with contemporary white Chinese language noodles, that are made out of simply wheat flour and water (these are the noodles I utilized in these pictures). Skip the yellow noodles akin to chow mein or lo noodles, as these sometimes comprise eggs.
The place to purchase: East Asian markets promote contemporary udon noodles and different contemporary noodles within the frozen or refrigerated sections or sometimes in shelf-stable, vacuum-sealed packaging.
Substitute: This recipe even works properly with dried noodles, so be at liberty to make use of these. Simply you’ll want to try the Suggestions part as a result of the amount will differ primarily based on the kind of noodles used. And skip skinny noodles, akin to rice vermicelli, as they are going to wilt underneath the creamy sauce.
Greens
Including veggies, although non-compulsory, transforms this mouthwatering aspect right into a nourishing, filling foremost. My go-tos are julienned carrots, thinly sliced crimson bell peppers, or thinly shredded napa cabbage. Should you use common cabbage as a substitute, therapeutic massage it with a contact of salt and lime juice to melt it and make it much less crunchy and cruciferous-y. Or, as a substitute, add finely chopped snap peas or snow peas.
Step-by-step directions
To make the sesame sauce, stir the ginger, garlic, sesame paste, soy sauces, agave, sesame oil, Chinese language black vinegar, and chili-garlic sauce in a bowl. Style and modify the flavors as wanted.
Deliver a pot of water to a boil for the noodles.
Whilst you wait, prep the mix-in elements (e.g., scallions, veggies, peanuts, edamame).
Cook dinner the noodles in keeping with the package deal directions. As soon as cooked, reserve some noodle water, then drain the noodles and rinse with chilly water.
Add the noodles to a big bowl and the sesame sauce to coat. Toss to coat, including a couple of splashes of reserved noodle water as wanted to coat the noodles and make every little thing saucy.
Add the scallions, greens of alternative, edamame, sesame seeds, and peanuts. Toss properly to mix, garnish as desired, and revel in.
Suggestions for making this recipe
Contemporary noodles are finest, however dried noodles work too.
Utilizing contemporary udon noodles or contemporary Chinese language white noodles actually makes this dish sing. I nonetheless love this dish with dried noodles, however solely use them if you happen to can’t discover contemporary ones.
You’ll have to use kind of noodles primarily based on whether or not they’re contemporary, frozen, or dried and their thickness.
Contemporary udon noodles (bouncy, thick, and lightweight): use 20 ounces (570g)
Frozen udon noodles: use 30 ounces (850g)
Different contemporary noodles (e.g., contemporary Chinese language white noodles): use 10 to 12 ounces (280 to 340g). Use the decrease quantity for saucier noodles.
Dried noodles: use 8 ounces (225g)
Style the sauce as you go.
The magic of this fast noodle dish is the superbly balanced sauce. It’s nutty, wealthy, savory, and a little bit tangy, spicy, and candy. You may add extra warmth, take down the richness, or in any other case change the flavors to your liking if you happen to style it as you go:
- For a sweeter sauce, add extra agave (or sugar).
- For a sharper sauce, add extra garlic or ginger.
- For a tangier sauce, add extra vinegar.
- Add kind of of the opposite elements to fit your style.
As soon as your style buds are leaping for pleasure, simply pour the sauce over your noodles!
PS: The sauce shall be very daring/concentrated in taste once you style it, however it’s going to coat a variety of noodles and can mellow out as soon as it combines with all the opposite elements.
Avoid wasting noodle water
Since sesame paste is kind of thick (like tahini), it may well go away the noodles a bit dry after the primary jiffy. To keep away from that, reserve a number of the starchy noodle water earlier than draining your noodles. Then use that water to toss with the noodles and sesame sauce (much like the way you add pasta water when combining cooked pasta with sauce).
Observe: In case you are utilizing contemporary or frozen udon noodles, you shouldn’t want so as to add water, because the noodles are fairly saucy.
Go to your native East Asian market.
You’ll doubtless discover Chinese language sesame paste, Chinese language black vinegar, darkish soy sauce, and contemporary noodles at your nearest East Asian market. They’re nearly all the time bought at a less expensive value than you’ll discover on-line.
Plus, as you go up and down the aisles, you’ll in all probability have a lot of enjoyable exploring new elements and cuisines. Each time I swing by an Asian market, I discover one thing new that I get excited to attempt.
On the hunt for an additional tasty Asian noodle salad so as to add to the repertoire? Attempt my crowd-pleasing Noodle Salad with Rainbow Veggies!
Get inventive.
Add no matter veggies your coronary heart needs, toss in a special protein, or do no matter else you need to make this dish your individual. I take advantage of edamame as a protein because it’s no-cook and fuss-free, however when you could have additional time, Fried Tofu and Baked Tofu are pleasant add-ins. Or just dice up a block of your favourite pre-baked tofu.
Should you’ve obtained leftover cilantro, garnish your noodles with it alongside the scallion greens. One other garnish thought: Chinese language chili crisp or a drizzle of chili oil actually makes this dish shine.
For one thing extra out-of-the-box, use zucchini noodles as a substitute of normal noodles or go halfsies (they’re nice for summertime!). After all, I nonetheless suppose udon noodles are the last word alternative, as their chewy, slurpy, bouncy texture makes this dish an indulgent delight.
And tailor this to your wants. Comply with the directions within the FAQ beneath if gluten-free, or omit the peanuts for a nut-free model.
Continuously Requested Questions
You should purchase Chinese language sesame paste at Chinese language and East Asian grocery shops, or you should purchase it on-line (affiliate hyperlink). See our Ingredient Notes on Chinese language sesame paste for particulars on utilizing tahini as a substitute.
Chilly sesame noodles are historically served as a aspect dish, and they’d pair splendidly with my Crispy Tofu Lettuce Wraps for an thrilling summer season unfold.
It’s also possible to serve them as a foremost dish by following the recipe card directions and including in veggies and edamame, plus peanuts and sesame seeds.
If you wish to stretch out the meal even additional, double the quantity of edamame and/or the peanuts.
Sure! You’ll have to make three substitutions:
1. Use tamari or gluten-free soy sauce rather than each the sunshine and darkish soy sauces.
2. Use comparatively thick rice noodles.
3. Use rice vinegar as a substitute of Chinese language black vinegar, which is fermented with small quantities of grain. This is perhaps okay if you happen to’re gluten illiberal, however not okay if you happen to’re allergic.
The chili-garlic sauce on this recipe provides a bit of warmth. Use much less for a milder dish or extra for spicier noodles. It’s also possible to go away it out solely, however add a contact extra vinegar or garlic to stability out the flavour.
Refrigerate your leftovers in an hermetic container and end them inside 4 to 5 days. It’s also possible to double the sauce recipe and pop the second half within the fridge for every week. The sauce will thicken a bit, so add a splash of water to loosen it up. High off your leftovers with a splash of vinegar to revive its flavors, then toss every little thing to coat.
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Chewy, contemporary udon noodles, wealthy sesame paste, and tangy black vinegar combine and mingle on this savory, nutty Sesame Noodles recipe. It’s fast and straightforward to make with heavy-hitting Chinese language pantry staples, and it shines superbly as both a aspect or a foremost dish.
Contemporary Vegetable (choose one)
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Deliver a big saucepan of water to a boil for the noodles.
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Whereas the water is coming to a boil, add the sliced scallions to a bowl of chilly water. Soak for 10 minutes, or when you prep the opposite elements (this helps mellow their pungency however you’ll be able to skip it if you happen to don’t thoughts that). Scoop out scallions with a slotted spoon and dry off with a towel.
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Make the sesame sauce. Stir collectively the ginger, garlic, sesame paste, each sorts of soy sauce, agave, Chinese language black vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and chili-garlic sauce. Whisk properly to mix, breaking apart any clumps from the sesame paste.a. Style, including extra agave or sesame paste as wanted to stability the acidity as wanted, or extra chili sauce for extra warmth. The sauce will style very concentrated proper now however it’s going to coat a variety of noodles and mix-ins.
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Cook dinner the noodles in keeping with the package deal directions. Earlier than draining, scoop out a number of the noodle cooking water and put aside.a. Drain and rinse the noodles underneath chilly water till the noodles are cool. Return the noodles to the saucepan or a big serving bowl.b. If making the noodles forward of time, toss them with a little bit of sesame oil to stop sticking.
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If utilizing edamame, add it to a bowl and season with a couple of pinches of salt.
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In a big bowl, mix the sesame sauce and cooled noodles and toss to coat with tongs. In case you are not utilizing contemporary udon noodles, add a little bit of the reserved noodle water. This makes it simpler for the sesame paste to cling to the noodles and prevents them from drying out. I take advantage of about 2 tablespoons of water to start out.
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Add the drained scallions, vegetable of alternative and seasoned edamame if utilizing, sesame seeds, and peanuts. Toss once more to mix.
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If desired, spoon a little bit Chinese language chili crisp on prime earlier than serving. When serving leftovers, add a splash of vinegar or spoon of chili sauce, as desired to clean up the flavors.
- I personally love utilizing contemporary udon noodles on this recipe due to their bouncy slurpable texture. They’re much lighter than different noodles, so if you’re utilizing different contemporary noodles, like contemporary white Chinese language noodles, use simply 10 to 12 ounces (280 to 340g); use the decrease quantity for saucier noodles. If utilizing dried noodles, use simply 8 ounces (225g).
- Should you can’t get Chinese language sesame paste, use a combination of creamy, unsweetened peanut butter and tahini.
- You may substitute with common grocery store soy sauce or tamari. You would possibly want so as to add a pair dashes extra of the latter, as Chinese language gentle soy sauce is a bit saltier.
- Should you don’t have darkish soy sauce, use extra of the common/gentle soy sauce.
- Don’t have Chinese language black vinegar? You may sub with rice vinegar (or Shaoxing wine, you probably have it), however you’ll doubtless need to add a bit extra (1 tablespoon whole). If gluten-free, use rice vinegar, as Chinese language black vinegar accommodates gluten.
- This quantity of chili sauce provides a average quantity of warmth. Be at liberty to make use of extra for a spicy model, or much less for a gentle model.
- The edamame helps make this a foremost meal, however be at liberty to omit if serving as a aspect dish. If you wish to stretch it to 4 heartier servings, use 12 ounces of edamame. If utilizing frozen edamame, you’ll be able to merely defrost it in heat water, or comply with the package deal directions (e.g., boil it for two minutes).
