This recipe for Tahini Sesame Noodles is the ultimate go-to for weeknight family dinners. This is the perfect meal when you are short on time and need something nourishing and delicious to eat. In the time it takes to boil pasta, you’ve got dinner!
There’s a special place in my heart for no-cook pasta sauces. I love being able to make a sauce, start to finish, all while the noodles cook. This recipe has an incredible creamy sauce with a spicy and nutty flavor, that’ll make you want to cook it again and again!
What you need.
While this Asian-inspired recipe is simple to make, the ingredient list is a bit complex. All these items can be found in a well-stocked grocery store, but I recommend making a stop by your local Asian market to pick up authentic brands for a true flavor experience. Once you have all these items in your pantry, I think you’ll find that they are actually very valuable in everyday cooking.
The base of the sauce is tahini which is a paste made from sesame seeds, and as with any natural seed or nut butter, it tends to separate as it sits. You will need to give it a good stir before using the paste is this dish. As written, these noodles are a little spicy, but you can adjust the spice to match your preference. By reducing or leaving out the hot chili oil and the chili garlic paste, this becomes a dish suitable for any palate.
Strongly-brewed black tea.
This recipe also calls for 5 tbsp of strongly-brewed black tea. This not only adds a great flavor to the dish, but also loosens the thick sauce a bit so it coats the pasta more readily. To make the strongly-brewed tea, take 3 black tea bags and steep them in 1/2 cup of boiled water for 3 to 4 minutes. Feel free to use a regular or a decaffeinated black tea in this step.
Family favorite and budget-friendly.
These Tahini Sesame Noodles have become a staple meal in my house, and they are probably the most requested weeknight dinner in my repertoire. The sauce has an incredible depth of flavor and it is a great way to level-up dinner on a night you would normally serve a plain old pasta with red sauce.
Tahini Sesame Noodles
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...A quick and easy Asian-inspired noodle dish with a no-cook sauce.
Ingredients
- 16 oz. penne
- 2 tsp hot chili oil
- 6 tbsp tahini
- 4 tbsp coconut aminos, or soy sauce
- 2 tbsp peanut oil
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 tbsp sherry cooking wine
- 1 tbsp chili garlic paste
- 2 tsp agave nectar
- 2 tsp powdered ginger
- 5 tbsp strongly-brewed black tea
- Green onions, circle cut
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
Cook the pasta according to box directions. Drain the noodles and then toss them with the hot chili oil. If you prefer a less spicy dish, toss with 2 tsp sesame oil instead.
While the pasta is cooking, whisk together all the ingredients from tahini down through the powdered ginger. Blend together until well mixed and smooth. Add the strongly-brewed tea in tablespoon increments to thin out the sauce to desired consistency.
Toss the sauce and noodles together then garnish with green onions and cilantro. Serve immediately.
Notes
Reduce or leave out the hot chili oil and the chili garlic paste if you prefer a less spicy dish. Tahini is a paste made from sesame seeds and tends to separate as it sits, mix the paste well before use. To make the strongly-brewed tea, take 3 black tea bags and steep them in 1/2 cup of boiled water for 3 to 4 minutes.
No Comments