Creamy Sesame Noodles Recipe: Ina Garten’s Flavor Explosion

Slurping up sesame noodles is a delightful culinary experience that bursts with rich, nutty flavors from Ina Garten’s beloved recipe.

Her take on this classic dish combines simplicity with sophistication.

Asian-inspired ingredients dance together, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.

The sauce coats each strand of noodle with a silky, savory embrace that beckons you to dive right in.

Fragrant scallions and toasted sesame seeds add depth and crunch to every bite.

You’ll find this recipe strikes the perfect balance between comfort food and gourmet delight.

Grab your chopsticks and get ready to savor a noodle experience that will become an instant favorite.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 508 kcal

Servings: 6

Ingredients You’ll Need for Ina Garten Sesame Noodles

• Spaghetti: Neutral canvas for vibrant Asian-inspired flavors, choose high-quality pasta for best texture and taste.
• Sugar Snap Peas: Crisp green vegetable adding freshness and delightful crunch, select bright green pods without blemishes.

• Vegetable Oil, Rice Wine Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil: Liquid harmony creating depth and complex Asian-inspired dressing, use toasted sesame oil for richer flavor.
• Honey: Natural sweetener balancing savory notes, opt for raw honey for more robust taste.
• Garlic, Ginger: Aromatic powerhouses providing bold, zesty undertones, choose fresh roots for maximum punch.
• Peanut Butter: Creamy element adding richness and subtle nutty dimension, select natural, unsweetened variety.

• Sesame Seeds: Nutty sprinkle adding visual appeal and delicate crunch, toast lightly for enhanced flavor.
• Red Bell Peppers: Vibrant vegetable bringing color and sweet crispness, pick firm, glossy peppers.
• Scallions: Mild onion flavor with fresh green notes, choose bright green stalks with firm white bases.
• Parsley: Fresh herb providing bright finish, select verdant leaves without wilting.

Tools to Prepare Ina Garten Sesame Noodles

• Large pot: Essential for boiling spaghetti and sugar snap peas.
• Slotted spoon: Perfect for removing sugar snap peas from boiling water.
• Bowl of ice water: Needed to stop cooking sugar snap peas and keep them crisp.
• Medium bowl: Used for whisking dressing ingredients together.
• Large mixing bowl: Ideal for combining noodles, vegetables, and dressing.
• Whisk: Crucial for blending dressing ingredients smoothly.
• Sharp knife: Required for chopping scallions and parsley.
• Cutting board: Necessary for preparing vegetables.

How to Cook Ina Garten Sesame Noodles

• Spaghetti Preparation

Boil salted water and cook pasta until perfectly tender. Drain and set aside in a spacious mixing bowl.

• Veggie Blanching

Create another pot of boiling water. Quickly cook sugar snap peas for a crisp texture, then shock them in ice water to preserve their bright green color and crunch.

• Flavor Fusion

Craft a silky smooth sauce by whisking together tangy vinegar, rich soy sauce, fragrant sesame oil, golden honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, nutty peanut butter, and half the sesame seeds.

• Ingredient Symphony

Gently toss pasta with blanched sugar snap peas, vibrant red bell peppers, and fresh scallions. Drizzle the zesty sauce over the ingredients, ensuring every morsel gets coated.

• Final Touch

Sprinkle remaining sesame seeds and fresh parsley. Mix thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly. Serve immediately for maximum deliciousness.

Flavor Tips for Ina Garten Sesame Noodles

• Easily transform this dish by adding grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu for a more substantial meal that keeps you satisfied longer.
• Swap sugar snap peas with broccoli, edamame, or julienned carrots to create your own signature vegetable blend and add extra nutrition.
• Kick up the heat by drizzling sriracha sauce or adding red pepper flakes for those who enjoy a spicy kick in their noodle dish.
• Prepare the dressing and chop vegetables in advance, storing them separately in the refrigerator for a quick weeknight meal that comes together in minutes.
• Replace regular spaghetti with rice noodles or gluten-free pasta, and use tamari instead of soy sauce to make this recipe completely gluten-free without sacrificing flavor.

How to Serve Ina Garten Sesame Noodles

• Pair with Protein Boost: Top the noodles with grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu for a hearty main course that adds extra protein and makes the dish more filling.
• Chill and Refresh: Serve the sesame noodles cold as a refreshing summer side dish, perfect for picnics, potlucks, or meal prep lunches that stay delicious even when refrigerated.
• Customize with Crunch: Sprinkle additional toppings like chopped peanuts, crispy wontons, or sliced almonds to add exciting texture and create a more complex flavor profile.
• Wine and Dine Pairing: Complement the Asian-inspired flavors with a crisp white wine like Riesling or a light, chilled Sauvignon Blanc that balances the dish's rich sesame and soy notes.

Best Way to Store Ina Garten Sesame Noodles

• Refrigerate Smartly: Store leftover sesame noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep the dish chilled to maintain its fresh flavor and texture.
• Revive Noodle Consistency: When reheating, sprinkle a few drops of water and gently mix to prevent dryness. Warm the noodles in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or briefly in a skillet to restore their original taste.
• Prep Ahead Strategy: Chop vegetables and mix dressing in advance to save time. Store separated ingredients in the refrigerator and combine just before serving to keep everything crisp and vibrant.
• Freeze with Caution: While possible to freeze, the texture of noodles and vegetables may change. If freezing, consume within 2 weeks and thaw in the refrigerator overnight for best results.

Effortless Ina Garten Sesame Noodles Recipe

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4.6 from 19 reviews

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

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Description

Ina Garten’s sesame noodles deliver a perfect balance of tangy and nutty flavors from East Asian cuisine. Elegant yet simple, this dish offers home cooks a quick and delicious meal you can enjoy with minimal preparation.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 pound (454 grams) sugar snap peas
• ½ pound (226 grams) thin spaghetti
• 2 red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and thinly sliced
• 4 scallions (white and green parts), sliced diagonally
• ½ cup (128 g / 4.5 oz) smooth peanut butter
• ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fl oz) rice wine vinegar
• ⅓ cup (80 ml / 2.7 fl oz) soy sauce
• 1 cup (240 ml / 8 fl oz) vegetable oil
• 3 tbsps (45 ml / 1.5 fl oz) dark sesame oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) honey
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
• 3 tbsps toasted white sesame seeds
• 3 tbsps chopped fresh parsley leaves
• Kosher salt to taste

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Instructions

1. Noodle Preparation: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook spaghetti until perfectly al dente, then drain and transfer to a spacious mixing bowl.
2. Vegetable Blanching: Simultaneously boil another pot of salted water. Submerge sugar snap peas for 3-5 minutes until crisp-tender, then immediately plunge into an ice water bath to halt cooking and preserve their vibrant green color. Drain thoroughly.
3. Dressing Creation: Whisk together vegetable oil, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, sesame seeds, and peanut butter in a medium bowl until the mixture transforms into a silky, homogeneous sauce.
4. Ingredient Fusion: Combine cooked spaghetti, blanched sugar snap peas, julienned red bell peppers, and thinly sliced scallions in the mixing bowl. Drizzle the meticulously crafted dressing over the ingredients, ensuring every morsel is luxuriously coated.
5. Final Flourish: Garnish with additional sesame seeds and freshly chopped parsley. Gently toss to distribute the dressing and herbs uniformly. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled for a refreshing culinary experience.

Notes

• Pasta Perfection: Choose high-quality spaghetti for the best texture and flavor, ensuring it’s cooked al dente to maintain a slight bite.
• Veggie Vitality: Blanch sugar snap peas quickly to preserve their bright green color, crisp texture, and nutritional value.
• Dressing Dynamics: Whisk dressing ingredients thoroughly to create a smooth, well-blended sauce that coats noodles evenly.
• Serving Suggestion: Allow noodles to cool slightly before serving to let flavors meld and develop a rich, harmonious taste profile.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 508
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 724 mg
• Fat: 38 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 37 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg