Black Sesame Rice Noodles for a Quick and Easy Dinner
Okay friends, I need to spill about these black sesame noodles that have literally saved my sanity on busy weeknights. If you’re hunting for easy and quick dinner ideas that actually deliver on flavor, these asian noodles are IT.
Fifteen minutes from start to finish (not exaggerating!), and you’ve got this gorgeous plate of rice noodles coated in this nutty, savory black tahini sauce that honestly makes me feel like I’m some kind of kitchen wizard.
I’ve made these rice noodles recipe at least twice a month since discovering it, and I STILL get excited every single time.
These Easy Asian Noodles Are Your New Weeknight BFF (And Why You’ll Be Obsessed)
So picture this: It’s Wednesday night, I’m exhausted after my yoga class, the kids are hangry, and Mark just texted that he’s stuck on a work call. Disaster, right? Nope. These quick and easy dinner noodles to the rescue!
What makes these sesame noodles recipe special is that magic combination of simple ingredients that somehow create this COMPLEX flavor explosion. The black tahini gives these noodles their gorgeous dark color and this nutty depth that regular tahini just doesn’t have. It’s like tahini’s mysterious, slightly cooler cousin, and I am HERE for it.
Can’t find black tahini recipes in your local store? Been there!
You can absolutely use regular tahini (just not quite as dramatic looking), or even peanut butter with a dash of sesame oil will get you in the ballpark.
My friend Lisa found black tahini at her local Asian market for way cheaper than I’d been paying online, so maybe check there?
Pro tip I learned the hard way: stick with light soy sauce for this recipe. I once got all fancy pants and used this mushroom-flavored dark soy sauce from that specialty store near the yoga studio, and it completely overpowered everything. Light soy sauce is the way to go for these asian noodle dishes!
Mark always adds a boiled egg cut into pieces on top of his (typical Libra needing to customize everything, lol), but I prefer mine exactly as the recipe states. Either way works!
Ingredients for Your New Favorite Asian Noodle Recipe
- 8 oz (225g) rice noodles
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil or olive oil (I prefer sesame for these asian recipes)
- 6 spring onions, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced (or more, I won’t judge!)
- 6 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1 small chili pepper, finely chopped (or 1 teaspoon chili powder if you’re making a kid-friendly version)
- 6 teaspoons runny honey
- 6 tablespoons rice vinegar (apple cider vinegar works too – used it last week when I ran out!)
- 3 tablespoons black tahini (the star of these tahini noodles!)
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
Step-by-Step Easy Noodles Instructions That Anyone Can Master
- First things first, get your water boiling for those rice noodles recipe success. Once it’s bubbling away, drop in the noodles and let them simmer for about 10 minutes. You want them tender but not mushy – nobody wants sad, floppy noodles! Drain them in a colander and give them a good rinse with cold water.
- Now grab your favorite deep frying pan and heat up that oil over medium heat. Toss in those chopped spring onions and let them sizzle for 2-3 minutes. The goal is crispy but not burnt – that fine line we’re always walking in the kitchen, right? Using a slotted spoon, fish them out and let them hang out on a paper towel.
- While your spring onions are doing their thing, mix up your sauce ingredients. In a bowl, combine your soy sauce, chili (or chili powder if my 8-year-old son is eating with us!), honey, black tahini, and rice vinegar. The tahini might look like it’s refusing to play nice with the others, but don’t stress – it’ll all come together in the heat, promise!
- Using the same oil (waste not, want not!), throw in your minced garlic and let it do its fragrant magic for about a minute. Your kitchen should smell AMAZING right about now. Pour in your sauce mixture and whisk it like you mean it while it warms through for 1-2 minutes. It’s basically kitchen alchemy watching that sauce transform into this glossy, velvety coating.
- This is where the magic happens! Add your noodles to the pan and use tongs to toss everything together. Make sure every single noodle gets its fair share of that black sesame sauce. The transformation is honestly so satisfying – watching those pale noodles take on this gorgeous dark color makes me feel like I’m creating edible art.
- Divide your creation between bowls, sprinkle with those crispy spring onions you’ve been saving, and finish with a generous sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds for that perfect asian dinner recipe finale!
How to Store These Quick Dinner Noodles (If You Somehow Have Leftovers)
If by some miracle you have leftovers (HOW?), these noodles will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. The only thing is that they might be a bit drier when you go to reheat them.
Want to bring them back to their former glory? Just add a tiny splash of water or a drizzle of sesame oil when reheating. Two minutes in the microwave (stir halfway through) or a quick warm-up in a pan, and dinner is SERVED again!
Insider Tips and Tricks for the Best Black Sesame Noodles Recipes Ever
Can I just share some hard-won wisdom from the approximately 50 times I’ve made this recipe? (Not an exaggeration – it’s my go-to for those “I can’t even” kind of days.)
Please, whatever you do, don’t overcook those rice noodles! They need just enough time to become tender but should still have a bit of bite to them. Mushy noodles are honestly the only way to mess up this foolproof asian dinner ideas masterpiece.
Those crispy spring onions might seem like an “extra” step in these asian noodle recipes, but trust me, they’re worth those 2-3 minutes. They add this amazing textural contrast that elevates the whole dish. I skipped them once when I was rushing to get dinner ready before my book club, and while the noodles were still good, they were missing that special something.
Heat level is totally customizable for these spicy tahini noodles. My daughter and I love it spicy (must be from that trip to Thailand where I fell in love with their heat levels!), while my son prefers just the tiniest hint of heat. The recipe as written gives you a pleasant medium kick that most people enjoy.
Pro-tip that’ll make you feel like a chef: toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for about 2 minutes before using them as garnish. The kitchen will smell like heaven, and the flavor gets amplified in the best way.
Perfect Pairings for Your Black Sesame Rice Noodles Stir Fry
These noodles stand proud on their own as quick dinner ideas, but they also play well with others! Here are my favorite sidekicks:
A super simple cucumber salad with rice vinegar, a tiny pinch of sugar, and some sesame seeds creates this refreshing contrast that cuts through the richness of the noodles. It’s that yin-yang balance that makes asian dinner recipes so satisfying.
Need more substance in your easy quick dinner? Add some crispy tofu on top! Just cut firm tofu into cubes, pat them dry (this is KEY), toss with cornstarch, and pan-fry until golden. The tofu soaks up any extra sauce and adds great protein to these vegetarian recipes.
Last month I hosted book club (we were discussing this K-drama inspired novel that had us all OBSESSED), and I set up a little DIY “noodle bar” with these black sesame noodles as the base and various toppings like sliced avocado, extra chili, lime wedges, and fresh herbs. Everyone went crazy for it and kept asking for this asian food recipe secret!
FAQs About These Quick Easy Healthy Dinner Noodles
Can I make this asian dinner gluten-free?
Absolutely! Rice noodles are already gluten-free (score!), but you’ll need to swap regular soy sauce for tamari or certified gluten-free soy sauce since regular soy sauce contains wheat. Everything else in these quick easy meals for dinner is naturally gluten-free!
What exactly is black tahini in these tahini recipe dinners?
Black tahini is basically regular tahini’s cooler, slightly more nutritious sibling. It’s made from black sesame seeds instead of white ones and has this slightly more intense flavor plus that gorgeous dark color that makes these quick dinner recipes so Instagram-worthy.
Find it at health food stores, Asian markets, or online. If you’re stuck, regular tahini works too – the flavor will be there, just not the dramatic look for your tahini recipes!
Can I meal prep these easy asian noodles?
100% yes! You can make the sauce up to 3 days ahead and store it in the fridge (but it literally takes 3 minutes to make so why would you?).
The noodles themselves will be better if you make the fresh, but the entire dish can be made a few hours ahead and served at room temperature. I’ve packed it for lunch many times – it’s perfect for meal prep or potlucks where you want easy noodles that impress!
How spicy are these asian noodle recipes?
As written, they have a pleasant medium heat that even my spice-loving daughter approves of. You can easily adjust by adding more or less chili according to your preference. For my son’s portion, I usually omit the fresh chili and use just a tiny pinch of chili powder. These easy dinner ideas for family can be customized for everyone’s spice tolerance!
Can I use different noodles for these quick dinner ideas healthy?
Definitely! While rice noodles give this dish its authentic asian noodles vibe, I’ve made it with soba, ramen, and even regular spaghetti when the pantry was looking sad. Each gives a slightly different texture but works well with the sauce. The beauty of these quick dinner ideas for family is how adaptable they are!
Is this recipe vegan for my plant-based dinner recipes collection?
So close! Just swap the honey for maple syrup or agave nectar, and these tahini recipe ideas become fully vegan. The flavor shifts slightly but is equally delicious for your easy vegetarian recipes arsenal.
The Surprising Health Benefits of Black Sesame in These Healthy Quick Dinner Recipes
Not to sound like I’m justifying my borderline obsession with these noodles or anything, but this black sesame noodles recipe actually packs some serious nutritional punch!
Black sesame seeds are legitimate nutritional powerhouses in these healthy noodles. They’re loaded with calcium (my yoga instructor is always reminding me about bone health!), iron, and antioxidants.
I started incorporating black tahini into my quick healthy dinner rotation after reading that black sesame seeds have even more antioxidants than their lighter counterparts. Who knew these quick dinner ideas healthy could be so good for you?
The garlic and spring onions aren’t just flavor boosters in these asian recipes – they’ve got immune-supporting properties too. And that chili pepper? It kickstarts your metabolism, which is never a bad thing when enjoying noodle recipes!
When I visited Thailand a few years back (still dreaming about that trip!), I was fascinated by how they balance flavors not just for taste but for health benefits too. These noodle dinner ideas capture some of that philosophy – ingredients that taste amazing together while supporting your wellbeing.
Let’s be real though – the best health benefit of these quick healthy dinner recipes might be that they’re so fast to make that you’re not tempted to order takeout after a long day. My wallet and my body both thank me! That’s self-care in noodle form, and I’m not even sorry about it.
Why These Black Sesame Tahini Noodles Are About To Become Your Kitchen Superpower
What I love most about these quick and easy dinner recipes is how they transform basic pantry staples into something that feels special enough for weekend company but easy enough for those “I can’t even deal with cooking right now” Tuesday nights.
The dramatic color from the black tahini makes these noodles totally Pinterest-worthy (I’ve definitely posted them more than I’d like to admit), and the complex flavor profile makes everyone think you’ve been slaving away in the kitchen all afternoon. Little do they know these black sesame recipes took less time than scrolling through TikTok before bed.
Now go make these noodles and then come back to tell me how they changed YOUR dinner game forever! I’ll be over here, probably making them for the third time this week because, well, they’re just that good.
