Cold Sesame Noodles
These cold sesame noodles have a rich, nutty aroma so typical for sesame and taste out of this world delicious. But the best thing about this recipe is that it’s ready in just 15 minutes!
Welcome back to Quickies. It’s one of my favorite recipe series, which includes meals you can make from scratch in 15-20 minutes. And yes, that includes prep!
Noodles are a typical quick meal, as evident by the popularity of instant ramen. Well, these cold sesame noodles may take just a little bit longer, but have way more nutritional value.
Honestly, for the effort that you put in (which isn’t much), the pay-off is incredible! These cold sesame noodles are creamy, nutty, chewy, and yummy.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- I’ve picked the veggies that go well with the Asian flavors, but this can also be a good opportunity to raid your kitchen for produce that needs to be used. Speaking of which, the Scrappy Cookbook has an entire index of the best ways you can stop your produce from going to waste.
- If you love sesame, this recipe is sesame galore! It contains sesame seeds, oil, and paste (tahini).
- These cold sesame noodles are perfect for anyone who is new to cooking, has a busy schedule, or doesn’t like to spend time in the kitchen. It’s so quick and easy, it’s impossible to mess up.
- Edamame is an underrated source of protein for plant-based eaters. Unlike beans, lentils, or tofu, it feels so fresh! And yet, it still injects enough protein into a meal.
Key Ingredients
- Sesame is a type of tiny, oil-rich seeds that have been cultivated for thousands of years for their nutty flavor and numerous health benefits. This recipe uses sesame in three forms: tahini (sesame paste), oil, and seeds.
- Ramen noodles are perfect for quick meals because they cook in minutes.
- Edamame are fresh young soy beans. They are a great source of plant-based protein that does not require long cooking times.
- Fresh vegetables, including carrot, cucumber, and spring onion add a satisfying crunch to this cold noodle dish.
- Seasonings include soy sauce, sweet chili, ginger, lime juice, and coriander.
Hack It!
- You can enjoy these noodles warm, too. Just toss the sauce and noodles in a pan for a couple of minutes to stir and warm up.
- Feel free to get creative with the components. Use your favorite noodles, your favorite vegetables for toppings, and adjust the spice level based on preference.
- You can even swap out the main ingredient: sesame! Try this formula with peanut butter, peanut oil, and crushed peanuts. Or, enjoy these noodles with suflower butter, sunflower seeds and oil. Yum!
How to Make Cold Sesame Noodles
Step 1: Cook your noodles of choice according to package directions. Drain the liquid, but reserve a little bit (about a quarter of a cup) of the noodle water for the sauce.
Step 2: While your noodles cool, whisk together tahini, soy sauce, lime juice, rice vinegar, sweet chili sauce, sesame oil, and ginger root.
Add a little bit of cooking water you reserved earlier to get the right consistency. The sauce should be drippy but not too liquid.
Step 3: Next, chop and dice your veggies. Feel free to play with your ingredients depending on preference and availability.
Step 4: Toss the noodles and sauce together.
Step 5: Transfer your sesame noodles to a bowl. Add the fresh vegetables.
Step 6: Add any extra toppings of your choice, such as more tahini sauce, sesame seeds and chili oil.
A Guide to Quickies
I started this recipe series to demonstrate that eating plant-based doesn’t have to take hours every day. It’s perfectly possible to make healthy, wholesome dishes in 15-20 minutes.
Here are some strategies to make the most of these quick recipes:
- Buy pre-chopped vegetables or prepare them in bulk at the beginning of the week.
- Use whole food ingredients. Fresh ingredients can enhance the flavor of simple dishes, making them taste more complex and satisfying.
- Optimize your kitchen equipment. With a minimal set of tools and appliences (such as blender, air fryer, and a set of non-stick pans), you can go very far!
- Make use of the microwave. You can quick-bake sweet and regular potatoes, and even make a whole cake.
- Plan in advance. If you have your groceries locked and loaded, you can streamline the cooking process more efficiently. If you’re looking for recipe inspiration and meal-planning tools, check out the PlantYou Planner! Available as a desktop or smartphone app, it makes plant-based living easier than ever.
- Incorporate leftovers into new quick recipes to save time and reduce waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store in the fridge for up to 4 days and enjoy it as a salad. You can even make a larger batch if you like meal prep.
Use rice vermicelli or pad Thai noodles, and swap regular soy sauce for tamari.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
- Green Spring Dumpling Soup
- Peanut Butter Ramen Noodles
- One Pan Curry Noodles
- Easy Red Curry Soup
- Sick Day Noodle Soup
Make sure you’re hitting all of your nutritional goals! I have collaborated with an amazing women-led business to bring you an all-in-one supplement. Complement x PlantYou Essential is a fine-tuned multinutrient for plant-based and plant-centered eaters, and it’s available as a subscription!
The Recipe: Cold Sesame Noodles
Ingredients
- 2 packs noodles, or "bundles" of ramen, wheat noodles, soba, pad Thai etc.
Sesame sauce
- 3 tbsp tahini
- 3 tbsp soy sauce, tamari for gluten-free
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp sweet chili garlic sauce
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp ginger, finely grated
To serve
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 radishes, finely chopped
- ¼ cup carrots, cut to matchsticks
- 1 handful cilantro, or parsley, chopped
- 1 mini cucumber, finely sliced
- 2 green onions, finely diced
- ½ cup edamame, thawed
- chili oil, optional
Equipment
- Bowl or pot to cook or soak the noodles
- Small bowl for the sauce
Instructions
- Cook your noodles according to package directions. Reserve 1/4 cup of the “pasta water” before draining.
- Next, make the sauce. Combine all listed ingredients in a large bowl, and whisk until smooth, adding the reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time until a drippable sauce is formed.
- Next, prepare your vegetables of choice. Slice your, chop your radishes, cucumber, green onions, carrots and other veggies, if using.
- Transfer the noodles to the bowl with the sauce and toss until completely covered. Serve with your vegetables of choice, sesame seeds and chili oil. Enjoy warm or cold. Store cold in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Notes
- Enjoy these noodles warm or cold.
- Feel free to get creative with the ingredients. Use your favorite noodles, your favorite vegetables for toppings, and adjust the spice level based on preference.
- Try this formula with peanut butter, peanut oil, and crushed peanuts. Or, enjoy these noodles with suflower butter, sunflower seeds and oil.