Easy Cold Sesame Noodles with Peanut Sauce
A family favorite that’s creamy, flavorful, and so easy. Tender noodles get tossed with a rich peanut-sesame sauce made from simple pantry staples—delicious warm or cold!
Ingredients
- 1 (12-ounce) box whole grain spaghetti, legume-based pasta, linguine, or noodles of choice
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter*
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon ginger powder
- 2 tablespoons warm water, plus more as needed to thin (I typically use 4 tablespoons total)
Optional Add-Ins
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha or favorite hot sauce, or 1½ to 2 teaspoons if you like a real kick
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey, for a slightly sweeter sauce
Optional Garnishes
- Sliced scallions, toasted sesame seeds, chopped peanuts, cucumber ribbons, shredded carrots
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water if serving chilled.
- Meanwhile, make the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, seasoned rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, garlic powder, and ginger powder until a thick paste forms. Add 2 tablespoons warm water and whisk until smooth and creamy. Continue adding more warm water as needed until the sauce becomes silky and pourable. I typically use about 4 tablespoons total. The sauce makes about 1 cup.
- If you like heat, whisk in 1 teaspoon Sriracha. I typically add 1½ teaspoons for heat. If you prefer a slightly sweeter, more rounded sauce, whisk in 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey. Toss the noodles with the sauce until evenly coated. As a guide: start with about 1 tablespoon sauce per 1 cup cooked noodles, then add more as needed. The sauce is rich and thick, so a little goes a long way!
- Garnish with scallions, sesame seeds, or any toppings you love and enjoy warm or cold.
Notes
• Serving size: About 1 cup cooked pasta tossed with 1 tablespoon sauce.
• Customize the flavor: Start with ¼ teaspoon each garlic powder and ginger powder for balanced flavor. If you like a bolder sauce, increase either one to ½ teaspoon. I typically start by increasing the ginger powder.
• Cold noodles soak up sauce: As the noodles chill, they absorb more sauce. If making ahead, simply stir in a splash of warm water before serving to loosen everything back up. And if you’d like it warm, microwave for 30 to 60 seconds.
• Best noodle options: Whole grain spaghetti, legume-based pasta, linguine, ramen noodles, lo mein noodles, and thin spaghetti all work beautifully.
• Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free noodles and swap soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos.
• Make it nut-free: Use sunflower seed butter or soy nut butter instead of peanut butter.
• Protein boost ideas: Toss in edamame, shredded chicken, tofu, shrimp, or sliced steak.
• Veggie additions: Add shredded cabbage, snap peas, bell peppers, or broccoli slaw for extra crunch and color.
Nutrition Information per serving
Serving Size: 1 cup pasta with 1 tablespoon of sauceCalories: 250Carbohydrates: 40gProtein: 12gTotal Fat: 6g— Unsaturated Fat: 5g— Saturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 115mgPotassium: 320mgFiber: 6gTotal Sugar: 3g— Natural Sugar: 3g— Added Sugar: 0gCalcium: 20mgIron: 2.4mg
Nutrition information is calculated using a leading industry software. That being said, brands can vary, and there may be slight fluctuations in the numbers.