Chinese Sesame Paste Noodles (麻醬麵)
These satisfyingly nutty, spicy, and salty Chinese sesame paste noodles are so easy to make! The noodles can be enjoyed alone or with refreshing toppings such as cucumber and carrots.
These Chinese sesame paste noodles (麻醬麵) have a ton of flavor. The sauce for the cold noodles has an amazing balance between nutty, spicy, salty, sour, and sweetness. Typically, Chinese cold noodles feature just the sauce, cooked noodles, and cucumber. So, this quick and easy cold sesame noodles recipe comes together in no time! However, there is plenty of room for customization with the sauce proportions and the toppings added for a filling main dish.
You can enjoy these Chinese cold noodles with vegetables (cucumber, carrots) and other toppings for a quick and flavorful meal! Some of the toppings that you can add include:
- Thinly julienned cucumber
- Thinly julienned carrots
- Thinly sliced bell peppers
- Roasted and crushed/coarsely chopped peanuts
- Roughly chopped cilantro, chopped scallions
- Sesame seeds
- And more
You can also mix in some protein, such as shredded chicken for a more satiating dish.
Sesame Paste For Sesame Noodles
The sesame paste used in a typical Chinese cold noodle recipe is Chinese sesame paste, which is different from tahini (also made from sesame seeds). Chinese sesame paste is made from roasted sesame seeds, while tahini is made from raw sesame seeds. So, sesame paste has a darker color and nuttier flavor profile in comparison to tahini. Even though these two ingredients are different, either can be used in this recipe!
Some of the nut or seed butters that can be used in place of sesame paste for a slightly different flavor include:
- Seed butter: tahini (sesame seeds), sunflower seed butter, pumpkin seed butter, etc.
- Nut butter: peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, etc.
Extra Sauce
This recipe makes a generous batch of cold noodle sauce, which lasts for a long time in the fridge. It can last for about a month or two since it has no water added and is decently salty. All you need to do is store the extra sauce in an air-tight container in the fridge. Then, when you want to use some of the sauce, use a clean spoon to pour the sauce onto your noodles. Having extra noodle sauce is great for busy days when you need to whip up a great meal!
Chinese Sesame Paste Noodles (麻醬麵)
Ingredients
- Noodles
Spicy Sesame Sauce
- 8 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 tbsp sesame paste
- 2 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp chili oil
- 4 tsp garlic finely minced
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Toppings (more above)
- cucumber thinly sliced
- carrot thinly sliced
- peanuts roasted and crushed
- cilantro roughly chopped
- scallions chopped
Instructions
- Boil the noodles according to packaging instructions. Drain the noodles and rinse them to cool and remove excess starch. Toss the noodles in some sesame oil to prevent the noodles from becoming sticky and clumping together.
- Mix all of the sauce ingredients together.
- Mix the noodles with your desired amount of sauce. If you would like the sauce to be thinner, you can mix in a spoonful of the water at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- Add in your desired toppings and serve.
Notes
- The sauce be stored up to 1 to 2 months in the refrigerator. Make sure to use a clean spoon to take out your desired amount of sauce to help the sauce stay fresh for longer.
How to Make Chinese Sesame Paste Noodles
Begin by mixing all of the sauce ingredients in a bowl. Set them aside while you prepare the noodles and toppings.
Boil the noodles according to packaging instructions. Drain the noodles and rinse them with water to cool them down and remove excess starch. Toss the noodles in some sesame oil to prevent the noodles from becoming sticky and clumping together. (If you are quick enough, you can skip this step)
Mix the prepared noodles with your desired amount of sauce. Add in your desired toppings, mix, and serve.
