Cold sesame noodles are my go-to order at a local Szechuan restaurant, so I was so excited to find an easy way to make them at home. My version of sesame peanut noodles comes together in just 20 minutes—perfect for a weeknight dinner—and requires minimal pantry ingredients. The sauce bursts with nutty, sweet, and salty flavor. It makes a great side dish, but you can also add any protein and serve it as a main course!
Soba Noodles Are My Favorite
I like to use soba noodles in this recipe. They are chewy and have an earthy flavor which perfectly complements the peanut butter and sesame dressing. If you can’t find soba noodles, rice noodles and egg noodles are also great options!
Two Simple Tips
This recipe is easy and straightforward, but here are two things to watch out for:
I prefer natural peanut butter
because it contains no additives or sweeteners; the only ingredients are peanuts and salt. Natural peanut butter has a more liquidy texture than conventional peanut butter, so it will blend more easily into the sauce.
Toss the cooked noodles with sesame oil immediately after rinsing and draining them.
This will make sure the noodles don’t stick to each other.
Easy Swaps and Variations
One reason why I love this recipe is because it is easy to customize for different flavor preferences and dietary requirements. Here are some ways that you can change it up:
If you want to give your noodles a kick, add a tablespoon of chili oil or Sriracha to the sauce.
If you have a peanut allergy, you can swap the peanut butter for almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter.
To make this recipe vegan, swap the honey for maple syrup.
If you do not have any rice vinegar on hand, white wine vinegar or apple cider will work in its place.
Serve Sesame Peanut Noodles Cold
These noodles are best served cold, which is GREAT because you don’t need to reheat them if you end up with leftovers. I like to garnish them with sesame seeds and sliced green onion, and serve them with steamed vegetables, like broccoli, bok choy, and zucchini.
Make-Ahead Tips
The noodles and sauce can be made ahead of time and stored separately in the fridge in airtight containers for up to 3 days. When you are ready to serve, add a tablespoon of warm water to the peanut sesame sauce to thin it out, then toss the noodles and sauce together. There is no need to reheat it—it’s best served cold!
Our favorite products
