Ina Garten’s Simple Sesame Noodles Recipe: A Speedy Delight

Sesame noodles dance with vibrant, mouth-watering flavors that transform ordinary pasta into an extraordinary culinary experience.

These tantalizing strands weave together a symphony of rich, nutty undertones and complex seasonings.

Bold Asian-inspired ingredients intermingle to create a harmonious blend of comfort and excitement on your plate.

Silky noodles become irresistible when coated with deep, umami-packed sauces that simultaneously soothe and stimulate your taste buds.

The magic happens when simple ingredients collaborate to elevate a basic dish into something spectacular.

Each twirled forkful promises a delightful journey through layers of intense, balanced seasonings.

You’ll fall in love with this quick, satisfying meal that brings restaurant-quality taste directly to your kitchen: prepare to be amazed.

The Essentials for Ina Garten’s Sesame Noodle Dish

• Garlic: Aromatic base that provides a sharp, intense flavor to the sauce.
• Ginger: Adds a warm, slightly spicy note and depth to the sauce.
• Vegetable Oil: Helps blend and smooth out the sauce ingredients.
• Tahini: Creamy sesame seed paste that adds richness and nutty flavor.
• Peanut Butter: Contributes creamy texture and deep, nutty undertones.
• Soy Sauce: Provides umami and salty complexity to the sauce.
• Sherry Vinegar, Dry Sherry: Adds tangy brightness and depth of flavor.
• Honey: Balances the sauce with natural sweetness.
• Sesame Oil: Brings signature toasted sesame flavor.
• Chili Paste: Adds heat and spicy kick to the sauce.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings for flavor enhancement.

• Spaghetti: Classic pasta that absorbs sauce beautifully.

• Scallions, Peanuts: Fresh crunch and additional texture for the final dish.

Cook Up Easy Sesame Noodles Step by Step

Step 1: Craft The Flavor Explosion

• Garlic
• Fresh ginger
• Vegetable oil
• Tahini
• Peanut butter
• Soy sauce
• Sherry vinegar
• Dry sherry
• Honey
• Sesame oil
• Chili paste
• Salt
• Black pepper

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until smooth and creamy. The sauce should look silky and well-integrated.

Step 2: Boil The Pasta Perfectly

Fill a large pot with water and add salt. Bring water to a rolling boil. Gently drop spaghetti into bubbling water. Cook pasta until it reaches al dente texture, typically 10-12 minutes. Watch carefully to avoid overcooking.

Step 3: Create Noodle Magic

Transfer hot pasta to a spacious serving bowl. Pour prepared sauce over noodles. Toss thoroughly, ensuring each strand gets coated with the rich, complex sauce. Add small amounts of pasta water if needed to achieve desired sauce consistency.

Step 4: Garnish And Serve

• Thinly sliced scallions
• Chopped roasted peanuts

Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. This dish can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature, making it perfect for casual dining or potlucks.

Serving Suggestion: Pair with cold Asian beer or crisp white wine for a complete meal experience.

Top Tips for Flavor-Packed Noodles

• Blend Sauce Smoothly: Whisk tahini and peanut butter thoroughly to create a silky, lump-free sauce that coats the noodles evenly.
• Customize Sauce Consistency: Keep pasta water handy to adjust the sauce's thickness, ensuring a perfect, glossy coating on every strand of spaghetti.
• Master Pasta Texture: Cook spaghetti just until al dente to maintain a delightful bite and prevent soggy noodles that can ruin the dish's overall texture.
• Timing Matters: Serve the sesame noodles warm or at room temperature for optimal flavor and prevent the sauce from becoming too thick and sticky.
• Elevate with Fresh Garnish: Sprinkle freshly sliced scallions on top to add a zesty crunch and bright, aromatic finish to the creamy noodles.

Preserving Leftover Sesame Noodles Like a Pro

• Freeze: Lock in freshness by transferring cooled noodles to heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air before sealing to prevent freezer burn. Label each bag with the date and contents. Frozen sesame noodles maintain their delicious flavor for up to 2 months, making meal prep a breeze for busy weeknights.
• Refrigerate: Preserve your culinary dish in an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid. Keep noodles at the back of the refrigerator where temperature remains most consistent. They'll stay tasty and fresh for 3-4 days, perfect for quick lunches or spontaneous snacks.
• Reheat: Revive cold noodles with a skillet technique that brings back their original magic. Drizzle a tablespoon of water or additional sesame oil to restore moisture and prevent sticking.

Ways to Remix Ina Garten’s Sesame Noodle Recipe

• Quick Protein Boost: Add grilled chicken, shredded tofu, or sliced beef for a hearty protein-packed meal that transforms the noodles into a complete dinner option.
• Veggie Power Bowl: Incorporate roasted vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and carrots to increase nutritional value and create a colorful, nutrient-dense dish that provides extra texture and flavor.
• Spicy Lovers Edition: Increase the chili paste or add fresh chopped jalapeños, red pepper flakes, or sriracha sauce for those who crave an extra kick of heat and want a more intense flavor profile.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace traditional spaghetti with rice noodles or gluten-free spaghetti to make the recipe accessible for people with gluten sensitivities while maintaining the original recipe's delicious taste.

Final Noodle Notes from Ina’s Kitchen

Sesame noodles embody culinary comfort with Ina Garten’s signature simplicity.

Creamy tahini and nutty peanut butter create a harmonious sauce that elevates basic spaghetti into a restaurant-worthy dish.

Ginger and garlic provide robust depth while chili paste adds subtle heat.

Scallions and crushed peanuts contribute delightful textural contrast to this quick meal.

Saucy, satisfying strands promise a delicious experience with minimal kitchen effort.

Salt, sherry, and sesame oil dance together, transforming ordinary ingredients into something extraordinary – dare you resist exploring this Mediterranean-Asian fusion masterpiece?

Hungry souls will crave seconds, share this recipe, and celebrate kitchen magic with enthusiastic comments and likes.

Why Easy Sesame Noodles by Ina Garten Are a Must-Try

• Whip Up a Flavor Explosion: This sesame noodle recipe bursts with a complex blend of sweet, savory, and spicy notes that dance together perfectly, creating a restaurant-quality dish right in your own kitchen.
• Breeze Through Preparation: With just one blender and a pot, you'll create a mouthwatering meal in under 30 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights or spontaneous dinner cravings.
• Master Global Comfort Food: These noodles combine Asian-inspired ingredients like tahini, soy sauce, and chili paste, transforming simple spaghetti into an exciting culinary adventure that feels both familiar and exotic.
• Customize Your Comfort: The flexible recipe allows easy modifications – swap nuts, adjust spice levels, or add protein like chicken or tofu to make it your own signature dish that suits any mood or dietary preference.

Ina Garten Easy Sesame Noodles Recipe

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4.9 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 22 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s easy sesame noodles bring quick, delightful Asian-inspired comfort to dinner tables. Silky noodles dance with rich sesame sauce, delivering complex flavors that promise to satisfy your craving for a simple yet sophisticated meal.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 pound (450 g) spaghetti
• ¼ cup (60 ml) creamy peanut butter
• ¼ cup (60 ml) tahini, stirred

Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:

• ¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable or canola oil
• ¼ cup (60 ml) soy sauce
• ¼ cup (60 ml) sherry vinegar
• ¼ cup (60 ml) dry sherry
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) liquid honey
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) toasted sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon (3 cloves) coarsely chopped garlic
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon chili paste or chili garlic sauce
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Garnish Ingredients:

• 4 scallions, sliced diagonally (white and green parts)
• ½ cup (75 g) salted, roasted peanuts, roughly chopped

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Instructions

1. Craft the flavor-packed sauce by blending minced garlic, freshly grated ginger, vegetable oil, tahini, creamy peanut butter, soy sauce, sherry vinegar, dry sherry, honey, sesame oil, chili paste, salt, and black pepper in a blender until the mixture transforms into a silky, uniform emulsion.
2. Bring a generously sized pot filled with water to a rolling boil, seasoning with of salt. Carefully introduce the spaghetti and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or precisely according to the package guidelines, aiming for a perfect al dente texture.
3. Using tongs or a pasta scoop, transfer the steaming hot spaghetti to a spacious serving bowl, reserving a small amount of the starchy cooking liquid to help bind the sauce.
4. Pour the prepared sauce over the hot pasta, gently tossing to ensure each strand is luxuriously coated. If the sauce appears too thick, incorporate small splashes of reserved pasta water to achieve a smooth, clingy consistency.
5. Garnish the pasta with thinly sliced scallions and roughly chopped roasted peanuts, providing a delightful crunch and fresh flavor burst. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt if needed.
6. Serve the dish immediately while warm, or allow it to rest and enjoy at room temperature, allowing the complex flavors to meld and develop.

Notes

• Whisk tahini and peanut butter thoroughly to eliminate clumps and create a silky, well-blended sauce that coats the pasta evenly.
• Reserve a splash of starchy pasta water before draining, which helps loosen the sauce and provides a glossy, smooth coating for the noodles.
• Cook spaghetti just until tender with a slight bite, preventing soggy noodles and ensuring the perfect al dente texture that pairs beautifully with the creamy sauce.
• Slice scallions moments before serving to introduce a fresh, sharp flavor and delightful crunch that cuts through the rich, nutty sauce.
• Enjoy the dish immediately or at room temperature, allowing the flavors to meld while maintaining the ideal sauce consistency and pasta texture.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 cup (about 1/6 of the recipe)
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 12 g
• Sodium: 650 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 13 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg