25 August 2023 Chinese

Cold Sesame Noodles

Name: Cold Sesame Noodles
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 2 servings noodles of choice (I use these Taiwanese Knife-cut Noodles); 2 tbsp tahini or sesame paste; 1 tbsp light soy sauce; 1 tbsp dark soy sauce; 1 tbsp sugar (or agave nectar or maple syrup); 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 1 tbsp chili oil; 1 tsp minced garlic; 2 tbsp hot water (preferably the cooking water from the noodles); ½ cucumber, finely chopped; A bunch of cilantro, finely chopped; 2 scallions, finely chopped; Sesame seeds (optional)

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Indulge in a bowl of irresistible Cold Sesame Noodles that will leave you craving for more. This easy and budget-friendly recipe only requires just a handful of ingredients and a mere 10 minutes of your time. With its delectable blend of creamy tahini, savory soy sauce, and a hint of chili oil, these noodles are the perfect harmony of flavors for a satisfying meal on any occasion.

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Why you'll love this Cold Sesame Noodles recipe
Key Ingredients
Instructions
Substitutions
Variations
Tips
Storage
FAQs
📖 Recipe
If you enjoy this recipe, also check out some of my other cold noodle recipes:
💬 Reviews

Why you'll love this Cold Sesame Noodles recipe

Noodles are the besties of busy university students, working people and families alike. During hectic periods, we are all looking for quick, easy recipes to make. This recipe is just the one we are looking for. This recipe is:

Easy to make: Anyone can make this recipe
Quick to make: This recipe only requires 10 minutes to make
Requires minimal ingredients: noodles, tahini or sesame paste, minced garlic, and typical sauces & condiments that you normally stock
Vegan and can be made gluten-free
Can be meal-prepped: you can eat it right away or enjoy in the fridge for later!

I love these noodles and like to eat them for a quick lunch or dinner when I do not have time or energy to cook.

Key Ingredients

The ingredients in this dish are probably what you've already had at home:

Noodles: You can use any noodles you have. Pasta, rice noodles (for a gluten-free option), soba noodles, everything works well here. For this recipe, I use Taiwanese knife-cut noodles.
Sesame paste, or tahini is the key ingredient to the creaminess of the sauce. You can substitute it with peanut butter or other types of nut butter.
Soy sauce: I used a combination of light and dark soy sauce to add color, but you can also use light soy sauce only.
Plant syrup: You can use agave or maple, or substitute it with granulated or brown sugar.
Rice vinegar: adds a tanginess that balances the salty flavors.
Chili oil for a little heat. You can substitute it with sriracha or other hot sauce!
Minced garlic: adds a garlicky, aromatic flavor to the dish! This can be substituted with garlic powder.

Instructions

Prepare the noodles:

Cook your noodles of choice according to the package instructions

When cooked, drain and rinse the noodles under cold water

Make the sauce:

Combine all the sauce ingredients (tahini or sesame paste, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, chili oil, minced garlic, and hot water in a bowl. Mix well to combine.

Sesame paste (or tahini)

Soy sauce

Rice vinegar

Chili oil

Hot water that reserved from cooking the noodles

Add minced garlic

Pour the sauce over the cooked noodles, add the garnishes, and mix well.

Pour the Sesame sauce over the cooked noodles and garnishes

Mix together until well combined, then top with sesame seeds

Substitutions

If you don't have tahini or sesame paste on hand, you can substitute it with peanut butter or almond butter for a different flavor profile.
For a gluten-free option, use rice noodles instead of wheat noodles and tamari or coconut amino instead of soy sauce.
Light soy sauce can be replaced with low-sodium soy sauce or tamari if desired.
Dark soy sauce adds depth and color, but if you don't have it, you can use additional light soy sauce instead.

Variations

For added protein, consider tossing in some edamame beans or tofu cubes.
Add a crunch by including other vegetables such as shredded carrots, thinly sliced bell peppers, or bean sprouts.
Customize the spice level by adjusting the amount of chili oil or adding a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.

Tips

Cook the noodles according to the package instructions, but make sure to slightly undercook them as they will continue to soften in the sauce.
To enhance the sesame flavor, lightly toast the sesame seeds and sprinkle them over the noodles before serving.
If the sauce is too thick, gradually add more hot water until you reach the desired consistency.

Storage

Cold Sesame Noodles are best enjoyed fresh, but you can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
The noodles may absorb some of the sauce while in storage, so you might want to reserve a small portion of the sauce to toss with the noodles before serving the leftovers.

FAQs

Q: Can I use a different type of pasta instead of noodles?

A: While the recipe calls for noodles, you can certainly experiment with different types of pasta such as spaghetti, linguine, or even whole wheat noodles. Just adjust the cooking time according to the package instructions.

Q: What is the difference between Sesame Paste and Tahini?

A: Asian Sesame Paste is commonly used in Asian cuisines, while Tahini is a central ingredient in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes. They have different preparation techniques, therefore they have different flavor profiles:
- Asian sesame paste can have a more robust and nutty flavor compared to tahini.
- Tahini has a distinct nutty flavor that is often described as rich, creamy, and slightly bitter.

If you have tried my recipe, please let me know what you think by leaving me a review on this page or tagging me on Instagram @veggieanh. I would love to see your creations!