Easy Rice Noodles with Spicy Sesame Sauce
Ever crave a big ole’ bowl of noodles? I sure do. Noodles are my favorite food. I don’t make such a statement lightly. There is something about the mouthfeel of noodles, so smooth and chewy, that is just so comforting.
Why I Love This Rice Noodle with Spicy Tahini Stir Fry Sauce Recipe
I love this recipe because, it’s a quick, easy, and healthy noodle recipe but also super delicious. The Tahini Sauce is a perfect complement. It creates a velvety, nutty flavor and aroma.
Many of my noodle dishes are inspired by other marvelous dishes. This dish is inspired by Thai peanut noodles and Dan Dan noodles some of my favorite noodle slurping dishes!
Ingredients
Noodles: I use rice noodles in this dish. Noodles come in many widths and sizes. Some Noodles are thin like vermicelli or round and wide like udon. I recommend using a Pad Thai style, which is known for its dried, flat, and wide noodles. Here is one noodle I like to use, from the Thai kitchen.
Veggies: You can get creative with veggies for this recipe. I chose carrots, bell peppers, and jalapenos. I love carrots in a warm and cozy noodle dish. The jalapenos and green bell peppers also pair nicely.
Some other veggie variations to try:
- Broccoli, napa cabbage, onion
- Celery, carrot, snow peas
- Edamame, red cabbage, cauliflower
Spicy: As always, spiciness is optional because it is not for everyone. But hey, this is a Spicy Tahini Noodle recipe! You could omit the spicy element and bump up the flavor with some garlic too.
Protein: Go ahead and use your favorite protein in this noodle dish. I chose a yummy, yet spicy, homemade jalapeno-picked egg. Keep things vegan by topping this recipe with some Baked Tofu.
Tahini Sauce: I make noodles so often that I have tried hundreds of combinations and ratios of ingredients. Due to my long history of noodle adventures, I usually eyeball the sauce, give it a taste, and adjust the ingredients as needed. However, if you need a blueprint, no worries! This combination (written in the recipe at the bottom of this post) will leave you blown away.
Garnish: A garnish can transform any dish into a work of art. When considering the following elements, color, taste, texture, and nutrition garnishes are not something that is thrown aside! In this recipe, I garnish with sesame seeds, green onion, and basil. But technically the egg is a garnish too!
Other garnish ideas include a wedge of lime or freshly squeezed lime juice, black pepper, a drizzle of maple syrup, a splash of soy sauce, or even an extra drizzle of creamy sauce.
How To Make This Recipe
A standout feature of noodle recipes is the ease of its creation. Check out my instructions below.
To make Spicy Tahini Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients. Adjust the spice level and sweetness according to your preference.
Cook The Noodles
Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions, then drain and set aside.
Sauté Aromatics
Heat avocado oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and ginger, and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Stir-Fry Vegetables
Add the carrot, bell peppers, jalapeno, and scallions to the pan. Stir-fry the vegetables for 3-5 minutes until they are crisp-tender.
Pour the spicy tahini stir fry sauce over the vegetables and toss until well coated.
Add Sauce and Noodles
Add the cooked rice noodles to the pan and gently toss everything together until the noodles are evenly coated with the sauce and the vegetables are distributed throughout.
Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the noodles are heated through.
Garnish and Serve
Remove the pan from the heat and add the desired garnish. Serve immediately.
Sharper Nutrition Fix: Tahini
What is Tahini?
Tahini is a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking. It is similar to peanut butter but instead of grounding peanuts to a pulp (or butter), it is made from ground sesame seeds. In tahini, the sesame seeds are toasted, ground, and finally emulsified with oil, creating a smooth and creamy consistency.
Tahini has its own wonderful flavor, much like a nutty earthy nut or seed butter. If you don’t have tahini for a recipe, you may be able to substitute a nut or seed butter along with some sesame oil.
Tahini is a major ingredient in a very popular snack food, hummus! Some other culinary uses for tahini include salad dressings, dips (such as hummus or baba ghanoush), used as a condiment, in a baked good (like cake), stirred into a soup, sauce, or smoothie, or you might also want to drizzle over some chickpeas or falafel.
If you want to learn more about how to use tahini in your kitchen check out these articles by Serious Eats, and Bon Appetit.
Enjoy This Recipe? Try These!
Vegan Yakisoba-Inspired Noodles
Vegan Kimchi Instant Ramen Recipe
Rice Noodles with Spicy Tahini Stir Fry Sauce
Equipment
- 1 Pan
- 1 Mason Jar
Ingredients
- 8 oz rice noodles
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1 diced bell pepper
- 2 minced jalapeno
- 4 chopped scallions
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 4 hard boiled eggs or pickled eggs
- 1 tbsp minced ginger
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
Spicy Tahini Sauce
- ⅓ cup tahini
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp chili crisp
- 2 tbsp Chinese black vinegar
- ½ cup starchy noodle water
- ⅛ tsp cracked black pepper
Garnish
- ¼ cup sesame seeds
- ¼ basil jullianed
- 5 scallions cut into long spears
Instructions
To make Spicy Tahini Sauce
- In a small bowl, whisk together sauce ingredients. Adjust the spice level and sweetness according to your preference.
Cook The Noodles
- Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions, then drain and set aside.
Sauté Aromatics
- Heat avocado oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and grated ginger, sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Stir-Fry Vegetables
- Add the carrot, bell peppers, jalapeno, and scallions to the pan. Stir-fry the vegetables for 3-5 minutes until they are crisp-tender.
- Pour the spicy tahini stir fry sauce over the vegetables and toss until well coated.
Add Sauce and Noodles
- Add the cooked rice noodles to the pan and gently toss everything together until the noodles are evenly coated with the sauce and the vegetables are distributed throughout.
- Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the noodles are heated through.
Garnish and Serve
- Remove the pan from the heat and add the desired garnish. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Hi, I’m Sarah Harper, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist passionate about cooking, eating, and sharing all things food! At The Addy Bean, you’ll find a variety of flexitarian recipes designed to inspire and empower you to explore the delicious world of plant-based eating. My mission is to make plant-forward meals approachable, enjoyable, and part of your everyday life!
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