Description
Sesame noodle bowls combine savory Asian-inspired flavors with quick, fresh ingredients. Silky noodles and crunchy vegetables create a balanced meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (226 g) noodles (spaghetti, soba, rice noodles, or ramen)
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup thinly sliced bell peppers
- 1 cup chopped cucumber
- 1 cup cooked shredded chicken, tofu, shrimp, or edamame
- ½ cup sliced green onions
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro (optional)
- ¼ cup soy sauce (low-sodium if preferred)
- 2 tbsps sesame oil
- 2 tbsps rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional, for sweetness)
- 1 tbsp sriracha (optional, for spice)
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Noodle Preparation: Submerge noodles in heavily salted boiling water, cooking until perfectly tender. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking, then set aside to cool completely.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, sriracha, minced ginger, crushed garlic, and toasted sesame seeds until a smooth, integrated dressing forms with balanced flavor profiles.
- Vegetable Composition: Prepare vegetables by cutting carrots into fine julienne strips, bell peppers into thin diagonal slices, and green onions into delicate circular pieces to create a vibrant textural foundation.
- Fusion Stage: Combine cooled noodles and prepared vegetables in a large mixing bowl, then generously drizzle the sesame sauce over the ingredients. Toss thoroughly to ensure complete and even coating of all components.
- Protein Integration: Add chosen protein – whether shredded chicken, cubed tofu, grilled shrimp, or steamed edamame – gently folding into the noodle mixture to distribute evenly throughout the dish.
- Final Presentation: Transfer noodle mixture into serving bowls, garnishing with thin cucumber ribbons, fresh cilantro leaves, and an additional sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds to enhance visual appeal and provide a crisp textural contrast.
Notes
- Noodle Precision: Cook noodles exactly al dente to prevent mushiness, ensuring they retain a delightful springy texture when mixed with sauce.
- Sauce Balancing: Taste and adjust sesame sauce gradually, adding sriracha or honey in small increments to achieve perfect sweet-spicy harmony without overwhelming other flavors.
- Vegetable Crunch Technique: Cut vegetables uniformly to ensure consistent cooking and maintain crisp texture, preventing soggy or unevenly cooked ingredients.
- Protein Flexibility: Swap proteins based on dietary needs – use plant-based alternatives like tofu for vegetarian version or grilled tempeh for added protein without meat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg