Cold Spicy Peanut Sesame Noodles

A little back story on my cold spicy peanut sesame noodles recipe

When my brother and I were in grade school, I remember my mom always made us the coolest lunches.

By coolest, I mean, it was always unique and diversified.

We didn’t have peanut butter and jelly, my mom would go out of the way to make sure our lunches were interesting so we wouldn’t get tired of them.

Some days, we’d get sushi for lunch or fried rice or even a fried egg sandwich.

My mom was seriously multi-talented in the kitchen when it came to lunches.

One of my favorite dishes my mom made for us were cold peanut noodles.

There was something about the ice cold noodles and the creamy peanut butter mixture that made the noodles addicting.

This cold spicy peanut sesame noodle recipe is a similar take to the classic peanut noodles that she’d make for us.

This version is a lot spicier but it’s just as delicious. Jason and I would keep sneaking into the fridge to eat a few noodles. They didn’t last us long at all.

It’s SO easy to make and it’s perfect for school lunches because you don’t have to worry about the refrigeration part of the lunch. It’s best to eat it cold/room temperature! :)

The sauce for these cold spicy peanut sesame noodles is irresistible and totally makes the dish what it is!

Let’s get started on common questions that may arise with these cold spicy peanut sesame noodles!

Can I use another nut butter?

Sure! Cashew butter would be wonderfully delicious.

Can this be eaten warm?

You can eat it warm but the beauty of this dish is when it’s eaten cold/chilled!

What kind of peanut butter do I use?

I would definitely use smooth but as far as natural or regular, I used regular (like JIF), but natural works just as well.

I think your sauce might be slightly more liquidy if you use natural though.

How do I make this less spicy?

Use less of the spicy garlic sauce.

What if I don’t have a blender?

You can use a food processor!

Can I use another type of pasta shape?

Mmm, spaghetti or medium rice noodles would be best in this dish.

How long can this stay out of the fridge?

At least 6-8 hours for sure.

**If your child or children around them have peanut allergies, please be conscious of this as this is dish contains peanuts! Also, if you or your child don’t like spicy foods, you can tone down the spice level by reducing the chili garlic sauce, or simply omit it altogether. The sauce will still taste great!

Other noodle recipes that are quick and easy:

• Pad see ew
• Cold sesame veggie noodles
• Thai chicken curry noodles
• Curry lemongrass chicken noodle bowl
• Soy sauce noodles

4.84 from 24 votes

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Cold Spicy Peanut Sesame Noodles

These cold spicy peanut sesame noodles are reminiscent of my childhood and my mother's intricate school lunches. Spicy peanut sesame noodles are served cold so they're incredibly refreshing on a warm day!

Prep Time: 1 hr

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins

Servings: 6

Servings are adjustable but please note that results, timing, and cookware may vary when adjusting servings.

Calories: 505kcal

Author: Julie Chiou

Ingredients

• ▢ 3/4 cup to 1 pound dried spaghetti noodles, or Asian rice noodles
• ▢ 2/3 cup water
• ▢ 1/3 cup smooth peanut butter
• ▢ 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
• ▢ 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
• ▢ 3 tbsp dark brown sugar, packed
• ▢ 1/4 cup roasted peanut oil
• ▢ 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds, plus more for topping
• ▢ 3 tsp chili garlic sauce
• ▢ 1 tsp sesame oil
• ▢ 1: 1- inch piece of ginger, peeled
• ▢ 1 clove small of garlic
• ▢ Fresh scallions, chopped, for topping

Instructions

• ▢
  In a large stockpot, bring water to boil then add spaghetti noodles and cook according to box. Drain well when done.
• ▢
  In a jar of a blender, combine water, peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, peanut oil, sesame seeds, chili garlic sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. Process until smooth.
• ▢
  After pasta is done cooking and drained, add to a large glass bowl. Pour the peanut sesame sauce over the noodles and toss to coat. The mixture/sauce will be very runny and it will look like you made way too much. Trust me, once you pop it in the fridge, the sauce sets up and it’s perfect :)
• ▢
  Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour – the longer, the better. I had mine in there for at least three. I love when it’s super cold and the sauce is nice and thick.
• ▢
  Toss noodles again prior to serving. Top with fresh scallions and sesame seeds.

Notes

Nutrition Facts

Cold Spicy Peanut Sesame Noodles

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 505 Calories from Fat 171

% Daily Value*

Fat 19g29%

Carbohydrates 72g24%

Fiber 4g16%

Sugar 13g14%

Protein 12g24%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.