After testing so many complex cookbooks lately, it was refreshing to turn to The Kitchn Cookbook for simple weeknight-style recipes that could be prepared quickly with ingredients already present in my pantry.
This recipe calls for rice noodles, but soba, udon or ramen can also work beautifully to give this dish its signature textures and flavors. I used agave nectar as my sweetener; maple syrup would also do nicely!
Ingredients
This Taiwanese dish combines noodles, garlic sesame peanut sauce and vegetables into one delicious and super healthy meal! Simple yet delectable!
This vegetarian-friendly dish offers plenty of flexibility when it comes to protein addition. Bake, grill or stir fry cubed chicken or tofu alongside the vegetables and double the sauce as needed for dipping!
Cold Peanut Sesame Noodles from The Kitchn Cookbook can be enjoyed hot or cold and are an easy takeout-style lunch option. Extra portions will keep well for several days in a tightly sealed container in the fridge or can easily be heated up on your stovetop when another serving is desired.
Thin wheat-based Taiwanese noodles known as kuan miao are ideal for this recipe; however, you could also substitute udon or spaghetti noodles instead for an equally tasty outcome. Udon offers thicker sauce than spaghetti (though both options taste delicious!). Tahini may also be substituted in place of peanut butter; however it has its own distinctive flavor!
Toast sesame seeds over medium heat until golden and fragrant, approximately 10 minutes. Reserve one tablespoon of seeds to set aside, and combine the remaining 3 tablespoons with peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, Siracha chili sauce and ground ginger in a blender. Blend until smooth while slowly adding hot water (a tablespoon at a time if necessary) to thin the sauce (it may appear curdled at first).
Combine hot pasta with sauce mixture, adding matchstick-cut cucumbers for extra crunch. Garnish with reserved scallion greens and sesame seeds before serving.
This quick and easy pantry-friendly recipe will quickly become one of your go-to dinner solutions on busy nights! Simply prepare the noodles, vegetables and sauce ahead of time then reheat when ready!
If cucumbers aren’t your thing, don’t worry; the flavorful, garlicky sauce still packs plenty of punch! Be sure to use only high-grade peanut butter, such as Jif or Whole Foods brand.
Prep
The Kitchn Cookbook provides recipes, tools and real-life inspiration to help you design a kitchen where cooking itself becomes irresistibly rewarding. At its core is the philosophy that an efficient and well-used kitchen maximizes both function and comfort for its users.
Start this easy cold peanut sesame noodles recipe by boiling your noodles in a large pot, once done rinsing well under cold water to remove much of their starch and prevent sticky and chewy noodles. This step is key in order to prevent sticky or gummed noodles!
While your noodles are cooking, combine all of the sauce ingredients. Combine Chinese sesame paste, soy sauce, agave or maple syrup (depending on your preference), peanut butter and whisk them all until completely mixed together.
Once your noodles are finished cooking and draining, add them to a bowl with the sauce mixture and stir thoroughly to evenly distribute the noodles and vegetables throughout. Use some of the hot pasta cooking water as needed to create a light sauce – how much depends on which brand of noodle you use – but start slowly by adding tablespoons at a time until desired texture has been reached.
If you are making a large batch of these noodles, feel free to store them in an airtight resealable container and refrigerate for several days before tossing with additional sauce before serving.
Before serving, garnish each bowl with fresh sprigs of cilantro and minced peanuts to add texture and flavor. Don’t forget a few lime wedges on the side for an extra fresh kick – enjoy! These noodles also taste fantastic when combined with shredded chicken for a simple meal or packed as lunch in an airtight tupperware or ziplock bag in the refrigerator if any leftovers remain!
Cook
Make this Cold Peanut Sesame Noodles dish extra flavorful by opting for dark sesame oil instead of light type – dark sesame oil has more depth of flavor! Add Sriracha sauce if you like for extra spicy noodles – I find them my personal fave. Feel free to swap out chicken for vegetarianism and keep this meal prep recipe as is!
Prepare the noodles according to package instructions before preparing the peanut sauce in a medium bowl. When the noodles are done cooking, drain and transfer to a large bowl for tossing with sesame oil (one tablespoon should suffice), drizzle the peanut sauce over them and toss well; if necessary use reserved pasta water to thin down as necessary and garnish with toasted sesame seeds, green onions, chopped peanuts for serving.
This quick and easy dinner is ideal for busy weeknights. Packed full of complex flavors that everyone will enjoy, peanut sesame noodles can also make an ideal vegetarian meal when served alongside pan-seared vegetables or tofu.
The Kitchn Cookbook is an indispensable collection of all of Apartment Therapy’s kitchen-focused recipes that have helped turn its site into the popular resource it is today. It includes 150 recipes, 50 essential lessons from its Cooking School, storage tips and tool recommendations from real kitchens, maintenance suggestions as well as 200 photographs to bring it all together in an accessible way for readers who wish to learn to cook or simply want creative, approachable dishes that make dinnertime feel less like work! Now available for purchase; the perfect gift idea!
Finish
If you’re searching for a tasty cold summer recipe to add to your repertoire, look no further than this irresistible peanut sauce tossed with noodles, vegetables and your choice of meat or tofu. Not only is this an easy and healthy dish to prepare but also refreshing and perfect for busy weeknight dinners when something satisfying needs to come quickly on the table!
Start by boiling a pot of salted water, and prepare your noodles according to package instructions. While they’re cooking, create the peanut sesame sauce by mixing sesame oil, peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic and ginger together in a small bowl until thoroughly mixed – then pour onto cooked noodles and stir thoroughly to coat in it! If it seems too thick for your liking simply thin it down by adding additional sesame oil or water as necessary.
Add the chopped green onion and peanuts for garnish, and enjoy! This delicious yet simple meal can be enjoyed both at home or packed for lunch on-the-go – it makes an excellent meal prep option too, lasting in the refrigerator up to five days in a resealable container!
Peanut noodles can be prepared ahead of time and served for weeknight dinner or packed lunch! Just ensure they are completely chilled after being mixed with the sesame sauce before placing in an airtight glass container to store in the fridge. Reheat them quickly by popping them back in the microwave for 20 seconds, adding black garlic or fresh cilantro as desired before plating them off and serving. If peanuts aren’t your thing, feel free to swap out the peanut butter with almond or sunbutter (or simply leave it out altogether). Or make this dish vegan-friendly by substituting with tamari (soy sauce brewed without gluten). This recipe makes for the ideal meal when following a restricted diet!