10 Minute Cold Sesame Noodles – Quick + Easy (VIDEO)

Ingredients for Cold Sesame Noodles

Ingredients

• dried noodles – see note and photo below for exact brand used
• Chinese Sesame Paste – see note below
• Light Soy Sauce – this is “light” or “all-purpose” soy sauce; do not use dark soy sauce, as it is too thick and sweet for this recipe!
• Chinese Black Vinegar – I use Chinkiang vinegar, which is fragrant, slightly sweet, and the right amount of sour. As you explore my blog and check out some of my other recipes, you’ll see that I use this ingredient A LOT. If you are interested in cooking a lot of Chinese recipes at home, I would recommend you buy a bottle to add as a pantry staple.
• chili oil: I like to use my homemade chili oil! I get asked all the time what brand of chili oil is my favorite and I always say – my own! Making your own chili oil ensures that you can control for the quality of the ingredients, as well as customize to your liking. If you’re interested to making chili oil at home, definitely give my recipe a try!
• Water
• Garlic
• noodle cooking water – after cooking your noodles, reserve at least 1/4 cup of the water. 1/4 cup of the water will be used to make the sauce.
  • Note – if you find the sauce is too thick for your liking, you can use the reserved noodle water to loosen the Cold Sesame Noodles to your liking.
• scallions – optional garnish
• crushed peanuts – optional garnish

What Kind of Noodles Should I Use?

This is the #1 question I get asked for noodle recipes, so I am including a photo of the exact brand that I like to use for Cold Sesame Noodles! The brand is called “Wu-Mu” and I got these from my local Chinese grocery (99 Ranch). They are a thin noodle made from wheat, which I find is perfect for soaking up the delicious Cold Sesame sauce!

If you cannot find this exact noodle, you can substitute with another long thin noodle of your choice. The star of the dish is the delicious sauce!

Cold Sesame Noodles: Recipe Instructions

1. Make the Cold Sesame Sauce

First, make your sauce. I like to make my sauce in a jar with a lid – I combine all of the ingredients for Cold Sesame Noodles and place it in the jar and shake until combined. If you don’t have a jar with a lid or prefer not to, you can make your sauce in a bowl. Whisk until combined and smooth.

In a bowl or jar, combine the sesame paste, light soy sauce, Chinese black vinegar, sugar, chili oil, water, and grated garlic. Stir or shake until the sauce is combined and smooth!

If you have any leftover Cold Sesame sauce, you can keep it in an airtight container (like the jar you used to make the sauce) in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

2. Cook Noodles and Assemble

Fill a pot with water and bring to a boil. Cook noodles according to package instructions or to your desired doneness. Reserve at least 1/4 cup of the cooking water.

Drain your noodles and then immediately rinse the noodles to remove any excess starch and stop them from cooking. Drain them well – you do not want excess water to dilute your Cold Sesame sauce.

In a bowl, combine your Cold Sesame sauce mixture with 1/4 cup of noodle cooking water (reserved from earlier) and drained noodles. Combine and mix until the sauce is well incorporated with the noodles. If you find the sauce is too thick, add in a little bit of the reserved noodle water to loosen the sauce.

3. Add Noodles to Sauce

Once the noodles are mixed with the sauce, use the reserved noodle cooking water to loosen the sauce as needed. Garnish your Cold Sesame Noodles with scallions, sliced cucumber, and crushed peanuts!

I Love Noodles – What Other Dishes Should I Make?

Do you love noodles? I do, too! If you like this recipe and want something similar, try my 10 Minute Sesame Peanut Noodles (or the spicier version Spicy Peanut Noodles)! Looking for another 10 minute noodle dish? Make my Spicy Garlic Ramen! Chili Oil Noodles only takes 15 minutes! If you’re a fan of gochujang, you’ll love my Spicy Gochujang Noodles! If you are looking for a heartier dish with mouth-numbing Szechuan flavors, you’ll love my Dan Dan Noodles!

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