Thai Sesame Noodles

Noodles with Chicken and Vegetables in a Sesame Peanut Sauce
Carl Tremblay / Getty Images
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Total: 32 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

Sesame noodles are one of many dishes brought to Thailand by Chinese immigrants more than a century ago. These noodles are simple to make and very similar to the Chinese version, except we find there is more depth of flavor owing to the addition of fish sauce and shrimp paste. The use of pure sesame oil adds beneficial fatty acids to your diet, so don't be tempted to leave it out or use the artificial substitutes. Standard Chinese, Japanese, or Thai wheat noodles are perfect for this dish and easy to find in any supermarket. Slices of sesame-soy marinated chicken add extra protein, and a final topping of toasted sesame seeds provide texture and that delicious sesame taste. Perfect for those days when you have a noodle craving!

Ingredients

  • 12 oz./283 to 340 g noodles (wheat dried)
  • 2 chicken breasts (boneless, cut into strips)
  • 1 bell pepper (red)
  • 5 to 8 mushrooms
  • 1 piece ginger (thumb-size, grated or finely chopped)
  • 3 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 3 to 4 tbsp. sesame seeds
  • 1 to 2 tbsp. vegetable (oil for stir-frying)
  • For the Marinade:
  • 3 tbsp. soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp. sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp. rice vinegar (or another type)
  • 3/4 tsp. sugar
  • For the Sauce:
  • 1/4 cup lime juice (fresh-squeezed)
  • 2 tbsp. soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp. sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp. fish sauce
  • 1/2 tsp. shrimp paste
  • 2 to 3 tsp. sugar (to taste)
  • 1 fresh chili (red, minced, or 1/2 tsp. dried crushed chili)
  • Garnish: 1 to 2 green onions (sliced)
  • Garnish: 1 handful basil (fresh)
  • Garnish: lime wedges

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Place chicken strips in a bowl. Stir together the marinade and pour over chicken. Allow it to marinate in the refrigerator while you prepare other ingredients.

  3. Boil noodles until al dente. Rinse thoroughly with cold water to keep from sticking. Set aside.

  4. Place sesame seeds in a dry frying pan over medium-high heat. Stir until seeds turn light golden brown. Transfer to a bowl to cool.

  5. Stir together all 'Sauce' ingredients with a fork or whisk in a small mixing bowl until shrimp paste and sugar dissolve. Set aside.

  6. Heat a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle 1 to 2 tbsp. oil into the pan, then add the ginger and garlic. Stir-fry 1 minute, then add the chicken (including marinade). Stir-fry 5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

  7. Add the red pepper and mushrooms. Stir-fry 2 more minutes, or until mushrooms are cooked.

  8. Add noodles and pour over the sauce you made. Stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes using a turning/tossing motion (almost like tossing a salad) to combine everything together.

  9. Remove from heat. Sprinkle over 2/3 of the toasted sesame seeds and toss again. Now taste-test for salt and spice. If too salty for your taste, add another tbsp. of lime juice. If not salty or flavorful enough, add a sprinkling of fish sauce. Add more chili for more heat. (Note: it's okay if they're a little on the salty side, as you will be serving them with more fresh lime).

  10. To serve, plate up the noodles, adding a final sprinkling of sesame seeds to each portion. Top with green onion, fresh basil, and lime wedges (to be squeezed over before eaten). Serve Thai chili sauce on the side for those who like it spicy.

  11. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
601 Calories
29g Fat
52g Carbs
36g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 601
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 29g 37%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 76mg 25%
Sodium 2312mg 101%
Total Carbohydrate 52g 19%
Dietary Fiber 7g 26%
Protein 36g
Calcium 149mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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