Cold "Noodles" with Sesame or Peanut Sauce

By cwaldron09

A crowd-pleaser and an easy starter or side -- or a main course on a hot day. To make it more substantial, add 1/2 cup or so of small tofu cubes or cooked soybeans. Or top each serving with a few slices of grilled, roasted, or poached chicken.

Ingredients

• 2 tblsp dark sesame oil
• 1/2 cup tahini, peanut butter, or a combo
• 2 tblsp sugar
• 3 tblsp soy sauce, or to taste
• 1 tsp minced fresh ginger (optional)
• 1 tblsp rice or white wine or other vinegar
• Hot sesame oil or Tabasco sauce to taste
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, or more to taste
• 3 medium zucchini, spiralized with the green blade
• 1 medium English cucumber, spiralized with the green blade
• Salt if needed
• 1 medium carrot, peeled, spiralized with the green blade
• At least 1/2 cup chopped scallion, or more to taste
• 1/4 tsp sesame seeds

Details

Level of difficulty Easy
Cost Budget Friendly

Preparation

Step 1

Whisk together the sesame oil and tahini, sugar, soy sauce, ginger, vinegar, hot oil, and pepper in a large bowl. Thin the sauce with hot water until it's about the consistency of heavy cream; you will need 1/4 to 1/2 cup.

Step 2

Toss the spiralized zucchini and cucumber 'noodles' with the sauce. Taste and adjust the seasonings (the dish may need salt), then garnish with the carrot, scallions, and sesame seeds and serve.

Step 3

Spicy Cold "Noodles" with Pork Variation: Omit the tahini and hot oil from the dressing, adding 2 teaspoons chile oil, or more to taste, 2 tablespoons dark sesame oil, and an extra tablespoon of rice vinegar. Toss about 8oz thinly sliced roasted or grilled pork or smoked ham with the noodles and sauce. Garnish with bean sprouts, chopped cilantro, sliced scallion, and/or chopped radishes as you like.