Last updated on June 23rd, 2024 at 02:19 pm
Cold sesame peanut noodles might become your new favourite simple meal. Thanks to its creamy and savoury sauce that coats a bowl of noodles with fresh spring onion, zesty ginger and crispy toasted sesame seeds. A tasty dish ready in 15 minutes for a quick meal on a warm summer’s day or night.
Cold dishes are popular during the summer or when the weather has become warmer after the spring chill and before the autumn breeze kicks in again. Cold noodles or liang mian in Chinese, are a dish popular on social media recently. Who would say no to a quick, simple, filling bowl of creamy, spicy, sour and chewy noodles? I would not so I make a bowl for myself, the spicy kind and a non-spicy one for my daughter.
An unpretentious dish that could be served on its own or topped with vegetables, meat or seafood to make a complete meal. These days there would always be a pot of nut butter in the kitchen waiting to be opened because we love them with a piece of toast, stuffed in dates, mixed in with yoghurt and stirred with soy sauce and vinegar to make simple dressings for vegetables and of course, noodles.
Ingredients to make Cold Sesame Noodles
The creamy, savoury sauce can be made in advance. Substitutes are welcome, swap spring onion for chives, cilantro or coriander. Vary the spice level, for a milder sauce use sweet chilli oil. Substitute sesame seeds with crushed peanuts. This is a great main dish but also delicious with chicken, prawns, pork, tofu or vegetables. Any noodles will work for this recipe, use wheat, rice, egg noodles or even pasta.
Wheat or egg noodles – dried or fresh work just check the cooking times
Sesame paste – if available use Chinese sesame paste but tahini works well
Peanut butter – use smooth peanut butter for a smooth, creamy sauce consistency but chunky peanut butter works as well just bear in mind that there will be bits of peanuts which surprisingly adds excitement to each bite
Water – boiling water scooped out of the pot of boiling noodles, add as much as needed to achieve the saucy consistency to coat the noodles but see to it that it does not end up too runny
Cider vinegar – use rice vinegar, Chinkiang vinegar or even distilled vinegar for cider vinegar
Soy sauce – this is regular light soy sauce or tamari sauce
Spring onion – swap with coriander/cilantro or chives
Garlic – add for pungency and aroma
Ginger – for a zing add ginger
Chilli oil – use homemade chilli oil or store-bought one and add as much or little to your liking
Sesame seeds – toasted sesame seeds, black or white or peanuts
How to make cold sesame noodles
Let’s make cold sesame noodles. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook the noodles briefly or until al dente.
While the noodles are cooking make the sauce. In a bowl mix equal parts of sesame paste, peanut butter, water, vinegar, and soy sauce. Stir until well combined.
Rinse the noodles in cold water. Place the noodles in a bowl.
Pour the sauce over the noodles. Top with chopped spring onion, minced ginger and garlic, chilli oil and sesame seeds. Beat the heat with cold sesame noodles.
In the video you may notice that I did not add minced garlic. Feel free to add or omit the garlic according to how you feel when you make this dish.
Try these other quick and easy recipes next:
Radish Salad or Ensaladang Labanos
Recipe Notes
Can these sesame peanut noodles be eaten warm?
These are great cold or chilled but could also be eaten warm.
What kind of sesame paste can I use?
Use Chinese sesame paste because of its more toasted taste but tahini will work together with peanut butter to achieve a nutty and creamy sauce.
What kind of peanut butter do I use to make sesame peanut noodles?
I would normally use smooth peanut butter for this recipe but there is no harm in using chunky peanut butter this way the bits of peanuts add some crunch to the dish.
Can I make this spicy or less spicy?
Customise the dish to your liking by adding more chilli oil or if you are serving it to a child, omit the chilli oil or serve with garlic oil.
Watch this short cooking video showing how to put together this noodle dish.
If you make this, please leave a comment and a review to let us know how you liked this recipe.
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Let’s get cooking!
COLD SESAME NOODLES
Equipment
- 1 bowl mixing
- set measuring spoons
- 1 cooking pot
- 1 chopsticks or tongs pair
Ingredients
- 100 grams noodles wheat or egg, fresh or dried
- 2 tbsp sesame paste or tahini
- 2 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/4 thumb ginger minced
- 4-5 tbsp water boiling
- 3-4 tsp chilli oil homemade or store-bought
Instructions
- In a pot, bring water to a boil then add the noodles. Cook according to instructions or until al dente.
- Add the sesame paste, peanut butter, vinegar, soy sauce, and water in a mixing bowl. Mix well to combine and achieve a sauce consistency.
- After the noodles are cooked, rinse under cold water. Place the noodles in a serving bowl.
- Pour the sauce over the top. Top with spring onions, garlic, ginger, chilli oil and sesame seeds.
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