Name: Sesame Noodles with Shredded Chicken and Vegetables
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: ChineseAsia
Ingredients: 2½ tablespoons soy sauce; 2 tablespoons chunky peanut butter; 1½ tablespoons sesame seeds , toasted; 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar; 1½ teaspoons grated fresh ginger; 1 garlic clove , minced; ½ teaspoon hot sauce; 2–3 tablespoons hot water; 8 ounces fresh Chinese noodles; Table salt for cooking noodles; 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil; 1 cup shredded cooked chicken; ½ red bell pepper , cut into ¼-inch-wide strips; ½ cucumber , peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and sliced ¼ inch thick; 1 carrot , peeled and shredded; 2 scallions , sliced thin; 1 tablespoon sesame seeds , toasted

Why This Recipe Works

Fresh Chinese lo mein noodles have a soft yet springy chewiness that keeps you coming back for another bite, and here they're highlighted with a peanutty, gingery sesame sauce; chicken; and plenty of satisfyingly crunchy vegetables. Chinese sesame paste is the main ingredient in authentic sesame noodles, but chunky peanut butter and toasted sesame seeds make worthy, pantry-friendly stand-ins. Pulverizing them in the blender quickly creates a nutty and fresh-tasting sauce. Rice vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic add lots of complexity. Bell pepper, cucumber, carrot, and scallions add colorful crispness. This recipe is a delicious way to use up leftover cooked chicken, or you can use a store-bought plain rotisserie chicken.

Before You Begin

You can substitute 6 ounces spaghetti for the fresh noodles. Sprinkle servings with fresh cilantro, if you like.

Instructions

for the sauce

Process soy sauce, peanut butter, sesame seeds, vinegar, sugar, ginger, garlic, and hot sauce in blender until smooth, about 30 seconds. With blender running, add hot water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until sauce has consistency of heavy cream.

for the chicken and noodles

Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add noodles and 1 tablespoon salt and cook, stirring often, until tender. Drain noodles, rinse with cold water, drain again, then toss with oil.

Transfer noodles to large bowl, add sauce, shredded chicken, bell pepper, cucumber, carrot, and scallions and toss to combine. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.