Ina Garten’s Irresistible Sesame Noodles Recipe for Beginners

Ina Garten Sesame Noodles burst with vibrant Asian-inspired flavors that dance across your palate.

These tantalizing noodles combine sweet, savory, and nutty notes in a symphonic culinary experience.

Each ingredient plays a harmonious role in creating a balanced and memorable dish.

The recipe transforms simple pantry staples into an extraordinary meal that feels both comforting and sophisticated.

Lightweight noodles intertwine with crunchy vegetables and aromatic seasonings, promising a delightful sensory journey.

Bright, fresh ingredients elevate this classic comfort food into something truly special.

Quick preparation means you can enjoy a restaurant-quality meal without extensive cooking skills: get ready to impress!

Why These Sesame Noodles Work Every Time

• Craft a Quick and Vibrant Meal: This sesame noodle recipe delivers a burst of flavor in just 20 minutes, perfect for busy home cooks craving a delicious and satisfying dinner.
• Texture Party in Every Bite: Enjoy the exciting mix of silky smooth noodles, crisp sugar snap peas, and crunchy bell peppers that create an amazing mouthfeel with each forkful.
• Packed with Irresistible Asian-Inspired Flavors: The genius dressing combines sweet honey, tangy rice wine vinegar, rich soy sauce, and nutty sesame oil for a complex and addictive taste profile that'll have everyone asking for seconds.

Sesame Noodle Ingredient Rundown

• Spaghetti: Classic pasta with good texture for absorbing delicious dressing, whole wheat option works well.
• Sugar Snap Peas: Fresh, crisp vegetable that adds bright green color and sweet crunch.

• Red Bell Peppers: Sweet, colorful vegetable that provides vibrant color and mild pepper flavor.
• Scallions: Mild onion flavor that adds fresh, sharp green notes to the dish.

• Vegetable Oil, Rice Wine Vinegar: Smooth base for creating light, tangy dressing.
• Soy Sauce: Adds rich, salty umami depth to the overall flavor.
• Sesame Oil: Provides authentic Asian-inspired nutty aroma and flavor.
• Honey: Natural sweetener that balances the savory elements of the sauce.
• Garlic, Ginger: Classic aromatic ingredients that bring warm, spicy undertones.
• Peanut Butter: Creamy ingredient that thickens and enriches the dressing.
• Sesame Seeds: Crunchy garnish with toasted, nutty flavor.
• Parsley: Fresh herb that adds bright green color and light herbal note.

Your Guide to Perfect Sesame Noodles

Step 1: Boil Spaghetti Noodles

Fill a large pot with water and add salt. Bring to a rolling boil. Drop in spaghetti and cook following package instructions. Drain pasta and set aside.

Step 2: Blanch Sugar Snap Peas

Bring another pot of salted water to boil. Add sugar snap peas and cook for 3-5 minutes until they’re bright green and slightly tender. Remove peas with a slotted spoon and quickly plunge into a bowl of ice water. Drain completely.

Step 3: Whisk Flavorful Sauce

• Vegetable oil
• Rice wine vinegar
• Soy sauce
• Sesame oil
• Honey
• Minced garlic
• Grated ginger
• Sesame seeds
• Creamy peanut butter

Whisk ingredients until smooth and well blended.

Step 4: Toss Colorful Vegetables

• Cooked spaghetti
• Blanched sugar snap peas
• Sliced red bell peppers
• Chopped scallions

Pour prepared sauce over ingredients.

Step 5: Finish and Serve

Sprinkle remaining sesame seeds and fresh chopped parsley. Gently toss everything until evenly coated. Serve immediately at room temperature or chilled.

Tips for Extra Flavor in Every Bite

• Pasta Precision: Select high-quality spaghetti for the best texture and flavor, ensuring each strand absorbs the delicious sesame dressing perfectly.
• Vegetable Vitality: Slice red peppers and scallions with a sharp knife at a slight angle for elegant, uniform pieces that distribute evenly throughout the dish.
• Dressing Mastery: Whisk the peanut butter thoroughly to prevent clumping, creating a silky-smooth sauce that coats the noodles beautifully.
• Chill and Refresh: Shock snap peas in ice water immediately after boiling to lock in their vibrant green color and maintain a satisfying crisp crunch.
• Temperature Trick: Let the cooked noodles cool slightly before mixing with the dressing to help the sauce cling better and prevent watery separation.

How to Store Leftover Sesame Noodles

• Flavor Preservation: Transfer noodles to a glass container with a tight-sealing lid to maintain their original taste and prevent absorption of other refrigerator odors. Glass containers create a superior barrier against flavor contamination compared to plastic alternatives.
• Temperature Control: Keep sesame noodles in the coldest part of your refrigerator, typically the back section, where temperature remains most consistent. Aim to consume within 2-3 days for optimal texture and freshness, ensuring the noodles retain their delightful al dente consistency.
• Moisture Management: Prevent soggy noodles by placing a paper towel inside the storage container to absorb excess moisture. This simple trick helps maintain the noodles' original texture and prevents them from becoming mushy during refrigeration.

Zesty Variations for Noodle Lovers

• Protein Power Noodles: Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu to boost protein content and create a more substantial meal. These protein sources complement the sesame dressing's rich flavors and add extra nutritional value.
• Vegetable Explosion Noodles: Replace sugar snap peas with a mix of roasted zucchini, eggplant, and carrots. Roasting vegetables intensifies their natural sweetness and creates a deeper, more complex flavor profile.
• Spicy Sesame Kick: Incorporate sriracha sauce or red pepper flakes into the dressing for a fiery challenge. This variation adds a bold heat that transforms the original recipe into a zesty, exciting dish for spice lovers.
• Cold Noodle Salad: Serve the dish completely chilled after refrigerating for an hour, making it a perfect summer meal. Chilling allows the flavors to meld together, creating a refreshing and light version of the original recipe.

Sesame Noodle Summary

Sesame Noodles showcase Ina Garten’s culinary magic, blending Asian-inspired flavors with classic comfort.

Pasta strands intertwine with crisp sugar snap peas, creating a harmonious texture symphony.

Ginger and garlic whispers dance through rich, nutty dressing, elevating each bite with complexity.

Sesame seeds sprinkle delicate crunch across colorful vegetable medley, promising sensory delight.

Mediterranean and Asian ingredients waltz together, challenging traditional recipe boundaries.

Hearty noodles beckon readers to savor, share, comment, and spread delicious inspiration across social platforms.

Ina Garten Sesame Noodles Recipe

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4.8 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s sesame noodles blend Asian-inspired flavors with silky pasta and zesty seasonings. Creamy, nutty sauce wraps around tender noodles, creating a simple yet elegant dish that brings restaurant-quality comfort directly to your kitchen.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• ½ pound (226 grams) thin spaghetti
• 1 pound (454 grams) sugar snap peas
• 2 red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and thinly sliced
• 4 scallions (white and green parts), sliced diagonally

Sauce Ingredients:

• ½ cup (128 grams) smooth peanut butter
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) rice wine vinegar
• ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) dark sesame oil
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) honey

Seasoning and Garnish Ingredients:

• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
• 3 tablespoons toasted white sesame seeds, divided
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
• Kosher salt to taste

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Instructions

1. Prepare a large pot with water and salt, bringing it to a rolling boil. Carefully add the spaghetti and cook following the package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside in a spacious mixing bowl.
2. Fill another large pot with salted water and bring to a vigorous boil. Gently lower the sugar snap peas into the water, allowing them to cook for 3 to 5 minutes until they reach a crisp-tender texture. Quickly transfer the peas using a slotted spoon into a waiting ice water bath to halt the cooking process and preserve their vibrant color and crunch. Drain completely.
3. Craft the dressing by whisking together vegetable oil, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, of sesame seeds, and creamy peanut butter in a medium mixing bowl until the mixture becomes smooth and well-incorporated.
4. Combine the cooked spaghetti, blanched sugar snap peas, julienned red bell peppers, and thinly sliced scallions in the large mixing bowl. Pour the prepared dressing over the ingredients, ensuring an even coating.
5. Sprinkle the remaining of sesame seeds and freshly chopped parsley over the dish. Toss the ingredients gently but thoroughly to distribute the dressing and herbs evenly. Serve immediately at room temperature or slightly chilled.

Notes

• Prep Ingredients Early: Gather and chop all vegetables and mix dressing ingredients before starting to cook for a smoother cooking process.
• Save Time Chopping: Use a sharp knife to slice red peppers and scallions into thin, uniform strips that blend perfectly with pasta.
• Quick Boiling Technique: Cook spaghetti just until al dente, checking package instructions to avoid mushy noodles that ruin the dish’s texture.
• Instant Cooling Trick: Immediately transfer blanched sugar snap peas into ice water to lock in their vibrant green color and crisp texture.
• Smooth Dressing Secret: Whisk peanut butter thoroughly to create a creamy, well-integrated sauce that coats every strand of pasta evenly.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 600 kcal
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 40 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Protein: 15 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg