Sesame Noodles
on Mar 02, 2022, Updated Aug 15, 2024
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These easy vegan sesame noodles make a quick and delicious 30-minute meal any night of the week.
You’ll love these simple sesame noodles for a comforting home-cooked meal. They can be enjoyed as a main dish with your choice of protein, paired with spring rolls or green salad or served as a side dish.
Noodle lover? Don’t miss these garlic chili oil noodles, ramen noodle stir fry, ramen noodle salad, spicy miso noodles or cold soba noodle salad.
Recipes Features
- Vegan and can be made gluten-free.
- Easy to make in under 30 minutes.
- Customize with different veggies like spinach or snap peas.
- Serve with your choice of protein if desired.
Ingredients
- Noodles: You can use just about any noodles here. I’d suggest wheat noodles such as spaghetti or linguini but rice noodles, udon noodles, soba noodles and even ramen noodles work!
- Broccoli: Broccoli adds volume and nutrition but it can be left out for a simple noodle dish or swapped for something like bok choy, snow peas or bell pepper.
- Soy Sauce: Use low-sodium soy sauce or gluten-free tamari. If you need the recipe to be soy-free, you can use coconut aminos.
- Sesame Oil: The sesame oil contributes the sesame flavour to the noodles, so I wouldn’t recommend substituting it with a different oil.
- Rice Vinegar: You can use seasoned or unseasoned vinegar.
- Mirin: You can find this in the Asian foods section of a well-stocked grocery store or in any Asian specialty store.
- Garlic & Ginger: Use whole garlic and ginger or substitute with 1 tsp each garlic powder and ground ginger in a pinch.
- Scallions & Sesame Seeds: Optional but nice for serving!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Start by cooking the noodles according to package instructions. While the noodles cook, lightly steam the broccoli for 2-3 minutes until tender but crisp and add all of the sauce ingredients to a container and mix well.
Once the noodles are cooked, drain and rinse them. Toss the noodles with 1 tsp sesame oil.
Quick Tip: For spicy sesame sauce, add 1-2 tsp Sriracha, sambal oelek or any chili garlic paste.
Add the sauce to a large skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes over medium-high heat until it slightly reduces (thickens).
Once the sauce has slightly reduced, add the noodles and broccoli and toss to coat. Mix well and cook for another minute or two until heated through.
Serve the noodles with a generous sprinkle of chopped scallions and sesame seeds. For heat, add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or drizzle of Sriracha.
Notes and Tips
Serve Cold: You can skip the pan and mix the cooked noodles with the sauce for a cold sesame noodle salad. Julienned carrots and cucumber work well with this if you’d like to add veggies.
Peanut Sesame Noodles: To make these peanut sesame noodles, add 2-3 tbsp natural peanut butter to the sauce. You may need a little water to adjust the consistency.
FAQs
You can use just about anything! Try soba, linguini, spaghetti, udon or ramen noodles.
I like to keep these pretty simple and just add broccoli but you can also add mushroom, bell pepper, bok choy, snow peas, snap peas, cabbage, bean sprouts, zucchini, peas, edamame, or corn.
Sesame noodles are delicious on their own for a simple meal but you can add any protein you like such as tempeh, tofu, seitan, edamame or chickpeas.
You could also serve with a side like spring rolls, green salad or summer rolls. I like to serve the noodles topped sesame seeds and thinly sliced scallions.
They can be! Just be use to use a gluten-free noodle like rice noodles or gluten-free pasta noodles and gluten-free tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
Storing Tips
- Storing: Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Leftovers can be enjoyed cold or reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop.
- To Microwave: Transfer to a microwave safe dish then heat for about 1 minute, stir well and continue at 30 second intervals until heated to your preference.
- To Heat Stovetop: Sesame noodles can also be reheated on the stovetop in a skillet until heated through. You can add a little broth or water to loosen if they’ve dried out.
Related Recipes
Looking for more noodle recipes? Here are some more favourites:
- Tofu Pad Thai: Amazing vegan pad Thai with tofu – easy to make and so yummy!
- Vegan Lo Mein: Quick and easy stir fry great for any night of the week.
- Cold Asian Noodle Salad: A delicious cold noodle salad with peanut sauce.
- Vermicelli Salad: Refreshing and healthy vermicelli noodle salad with sweet and spicy dressing.
- Miso Noodles: 20-minute spicy vegan miso noodles with mushroom and cabbage.
- Vegan Drunken Noodles: Quick and delicious drunken noodle recipe with cabbage.
- Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad with Tangy Dressing: Cold rice noodles with lime dressing.
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section to leave a star rating and review.
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Sesame Noodles
Ingredients
- 9 oz. dry noodles such as spaghetti or fettucini, 250 g
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 4 cups broccoli florets, lightly steamed (284 g)
For the Sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce or gluten-free tamari, 30 ml
- 3 tbsp vegetable broth, 45 ml
- 2 tbsp hot water, 30 ml
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil, 30 ml
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 30 ml
- 2 tablespoons mirin sauce, 30
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (12 g)
- 1 tablespoon peeled and minced fresh ginger, 12 g
- 2 tsp chili garlic paste such as Sambal or Sriracha, optional, for spice
For Serving
- chopped scallions
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to package instructions.
- While the noodles are cooking, steam the broccoli for 2-3 minutes until tender but crisp.
- Drain and rinse the noodles once cooked and toss with 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- Add all of the sauce ingredients to a bowl or container and mix or shake until fully combined
- Add the sauce to a large skillet or wok and simmer for 2-3 minutes over medium-high heat, string often until it starts to thicken. Alternativetly, for a cold noodle dish, toss the sauce with the noodles and broccoli and serve.
- Once the sauce has thickened slightly, stir in the noodles and steamed broccoli.
- Mix well and cook for another 1-2 minutes until the noodles are heated through and coated in the sauce.
- Serve topped with chopped scallions and sesame seeds.