Ingredients
8 oz. dried wheat noodles
3 tbsp. Chinese sesame paste
2 tbsp. peanut butter
3 tbsp. reserved noodle water
1 clove garlic, grated
1/2 tsp. freshly grated ginger
1 tbsp. honey, brown sugar, or granulated sugar
2 tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp. rice wine vinegar
2 tsp. Chinese black vinegar
1/2 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. MSG (optional)
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper (optional)
1/8 tsp. five spice powder (optional)
1/8 tsp. ground Szechuan peppercorns
Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
Thinly slivered cucumbers
Crushed roasted peanuts
Toasted sesame seeds
Chili oil
Thinly sliced green onions
Preparation
Step 1In a medium pot of boiling water, cook noodles according to package instructions until al dente, about 3 minutes. Reserve at least ¼ cup cooking water, then drain and briefly rinse noodles in cold water. Step 2In a medium bowl, combine sesame paste and peanut butter. Gradually whisk in 3 tablespoons cooking water until smooth.Step 3 Add all remaining sauce ingredients and whisk until well combined and mixture is silky. Step 4Place cooked noodles on a plate, then top with cucumbers. Drizzle prepared sauce all over on top. Before serving, garnish with chili oil, sesame, peanuts, and green onions.
For best results, I love using dried wheat noodles—often labeled “oriental noodles” and found in the dry goods shelves of your local Asian stores—because they tend to cling to the silky sauce perfectly. Reserve a cup of your noodle cooking water for your sauce as the starches in that water will be key in creating a smooth, slightly tacky dressing for your noodles. If you can’t find Chinese sesame paste, you can substitute tahini—just note that the flavor will be a little less toasty and slightly more floral. For topping, use as much (or as little) store-bought chili crisp or homemade chili oil to spice it up to your liking, and be sure to slip a few cucumber slivers into each bite to balance out that heat. If you’ve made this recipe, we’d love to hear your thoughts! Drop us a comment down below to let us know how you liked it.
