Sesame noodles with vegetables is an easy weeknight dinner that you can whip up in flat 30 minutes.

Made with soba noodles, this is a vegan, healthier and so satiating bowl of noodles with that unmistakable sesame crunch. Great as a meal on its own or as side dish in smaller portions for your Asian meals. No sesame paste required 🙂

More Asian recipes – vegetable stir fry, chilli potato, tofu basil, braised tofu, thai fried rice, tofu fried rice.

So what’s with me and noodles lately, I am craving it a lot! You know what, I seem to give in too.

To my defense, I use healthy millet noodles, load it up with veggies and make it healthier with sesame, like what I did here in this soba sesame noodles recipe with all the vegetables in the world.

I love sesame seeds for their crunch and flavor, more in Asian recipes. Topping a fried rice or noodle bowl with these seeds simply elevate the flavor and texture.

In this sesame noodles recipe, we are adding two varieties of sesame seeds, black and white. While the white ones have a mild flavor and nutty taste, black ones pack a punch with bold flavors.

This is a ridiculously easy to make recipe, ready in 30 minutes and all you have to do in cut up vegetables. The sauce for this noodles is a super simple one with all pantry staples yet super delicious and flavorful.

I do not literally mix all the ingredients for sauce though, I just keep the ingredients ready and add one by one. One less bowl to wash 🙂

While vegetables are optional in this recipe, I recommend to add them when you can. Vegetables used like carrots, beans add so much crunch, flavor and taste to this recipe.

However if you are not adding vegetables, it is totally fine too. You will have to increase the quantity of noodles to get three servings mentioned here. See notes

This sesame noodles tastes best on its own, as it is so flavorful and loaded with vegetables, there is tofu too. This will be a great dish in any Asian meal. Serve as side dish along with gobi manchurian, veg fried rice.

This Sesame Noodles Is

Vegan, completely plant based

Can be easily made gluten free

Delicious, flavorful and satiating

is tossed in very flavorful sauce.

Best Noodles For Sesame Noodles?

While you can use any noodles for this recipe, I prefer to use noodles with robust flavor like soba or udon noodles in this recipe.

If you are not going vegan, you can also try egg noodles.

I somehow do not prefer spaghetti, but if you should you can go for it. Even a basic linguine works well here.

Here for this recipe I have used soba noodles. Swap with gluten free noodles if you prefer.

Sesame Noodles Dressing or Sauce

Like all my sauce or dressing for noodles or salad this is also very simple with less ingredients. According to me when it comes to sauce, less is more. Here also I have used just a few but super flavorful ingredients.

I prefer to use few ingredients for that bold distinct flavor. For the same reason, I am using a mix if black and white seeds. You can add a dash of tahini or sesame paste in this recipe, but somehow I feel it is perfect as it is 🙂

So what goes in the sauce for sesame noodles you ask? It is a delicious mix of

dark soy sauce
maple (I used instead of honey, you can use honey or brown sugar)
rice vinegar
minced ginger
minced garlic
sambal oelak (chili paste)
toasted sesame oil

To make the noodle creamy with sweeter taste you can add peanut butter. Add 1-2 tablespoons natural peanut butter. You can also add crunchy peanut butter.

Variations & Add-ins

If you like to make this noodles more hearty or want to swap ingredients, here are your options.

If dark soy sauce is not available you can use regular ones. Dark ones lend a deep flavor and color. So if you are using regular soy sauce, just increase the quantity accordingly. Use tamari for gluten free variation.

Sambal oelak is Asian red chili paste. I used homemade. if it is unavailable just use any hot sauce like siracha or just add chili flakes.

Adding Protein- to make this noodles more wholesome, you can add protein like sprouts, tofu, mushrooms. I have used tofu here. Paneer is a vegetarian option.

Vegetables– I love to make this sesame noodles recipe with loads of vegetables. I have added cabbage, bell peppers, baby corn, green onions here. You can also add

asparagus
broccoli
green peas
beans
zucchini

Greens- Greens like baby spinach, bok choy will be very good in this recipe. Just saute along with onions.

Use Zoodles too if you like- Want to make this super healthy, light summer meal? make sesame noodles with zucchini noodles and make this recipe.

Use mirin instead of rice vinegar for a sweet rounded flavor.

As always use tamari and gluten free noodles to make this recipe gluten free.

Serving Suggestions

This noddle bowl is delicious on its own as it is loaded with veggies and tofu. You can serve it a dash if chili vinegar or hot sauce as main meal.

This sesame noodles are also a wonderful side dish in Asian meals. Serve with some pot stickers, spring rolls, tofu sitr fry , corn clear soup, stir fry vegetables.

Method

Cooking Noodles

Bring 4 cup water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add few drops of oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add uncooked noodles and stir once gently.

Cook for the time mentioned in the package in medium flame.

Once done, drain excess water and rinse in cold water thoroughly.

Keep covered until use.

How To Make Sesame Noodles.

Heat toasted sesame oil in a large wok. Add minced ginger garlic and chili flake. Saute for few seconds. Now add finely chopped onions and saute well for a minute in high heat.