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Cool Peanut Sesame Noodles with Crunchy Vegetables

Cool Peanut Sesame Noodles, highly additive and flavorful rendition of Chinese cold noodles tossed in fresh toasted sesame and peanut butter sauce, with added crunchy vegetables.

Peanut Sesame Noodles, overhead in white serving bowl.

Cold sesame noodles are a favorite of mine that I forget to make very often.  In fact, I hadn't made them in years until a few weeks ago.  With the warm weather upon us, I remembered how good these noodles are for a side dish.  I love the combination of sesame seeds and peanut butter, combined with other Asian flavors.  Once you try these Cool Peanut Sesame Noodles, you'll be hooked.

Peanut Sesame Noodles, ingredients laid out on a board.

The peanut-sesame sauce comes together easily in a food processor or blender and then gets tossed with cooled down spaghetti.  I like sesame noodles room temperature, but I also like them cold, right out of the fridge the next day.  Either way is pretty tasty.

Peanut Sesame Noodles, in serving bowl.

I added red bell pepper, cucumber and some bean sprouts, for flavor and crunch, and served it as a side dish.  It could easily be the main course, for sure.  Add some shredded chicken if you like, along with or instead of the vegetables, for a more substantial main dish ~ whatever mood strikes you.

Cool Peanut Sesame Noodles are great in the warm weather with grilled meats, chicken or fish.  Any leftovers make for a tasty breakfast or lunch.  This I know firsthand ~ I dug in for both meals the next day, they're kind of addictive, just sayin'.  Enjoy, Kelly

Peanut Sesame Noodles, in serving bowl on board.

You might also like Napa Cabbage Salad for a summer side dish.

If you’ve tried these Peanut Sesame Noodles, please rate it below in the comments and let me know how it went ~ I love hearing from you! HUNGRY FOR MORE?  Subscribe to my Newsletter and come hang out with me on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK.

Peanut Sesame Noodles in serving bowl

Cool Peanut Sesame Noodles with Crunchy Vegetables

Highly additive and flavorful rendition of Chinese cold noodles tossed in fresh toasted sesame and peanut butter sauce, with added crunchy vegetables.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Chinese
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 396kcal

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup sesame seeds
  • ¼ cup chunky peanut butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
  • 1 tablespoon minced or grated fresh ginger
  • 5 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Tabasco or Crystal)
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar, lightly packed
  • Hot water, as needed, to thin
  • Kosher salt
  • 12 ounces dried spaghetti
  • 2 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 4 scallions, sliced thin on diagonal
  • 1 medium carrot, grated
  • 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into ¼-inch slices
  • 2 small Kirby or English cucumbers, cut in half lengthwise, sliced into half moons
  • Handful of bean sprouts (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro

Instructions

  • Toast sesame seeds in medium skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant.  Watch carefully and stir frequently, being careful not to burn.  Reserve 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds and set aside.
  • In blender or food processor, purée remaining 3 tablespoons sesame seeds, peanut butter, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, vinegar, hot sauce, and sugar until smooth, about 30 - 60 seconds.  With machine running, add hot water 1 tablespoon at a time until sauce has the consistency of heavy cream (up to 5 tablespoons).  Set aside.
  • Bring large pot of salted water to boil and cook spaghetti until al dente, according to package instructions.  Drain and rinse with cold water until cool to touch.  In large bowl, toss cooled noodles with sesame oil.
  • Add scallions, carrots, red bell pepper, cucumbers, bean sprouts, and sesame-peanut sauce; toss to combine.  Divide among bowls or plates and top with a sprinkling of reserved sesame seeds and cilantro, and serve.

Recipe Notes

  • Use conventional peanut butter, not the natural kind.
  • I substituted coconut aminos for the soy sauce.
  • Can add cooked, shredded chicken in addition to or in place of the bell pepper and cucumber, for a more substantial main dish.

Nutrition

Calories: 396kcal Carbohydrates: 55g Protein: 13g Fat: 14g Saturated Fat: 2g Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g Monounsaturated Fat: 6g Sodium: 560mg Potassium: 447mg Fiber: 4g Sugar: 9g Vitamin A: 2443IU Vitamin C: 30mg Calcium: 106mg Iron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe? Please comment, rate it and share! And mention me on Instagram @thehungrybluebird or tag #thehungrybluebird so I can see!

*Adapted from Cook's Illustrated, September, 2004

 

5 from 1 vote
Recipe Rating




Meathead

Friday 23rd of June 2017

Hot Summer, Cool Noodles... with a bit of a crunch.