Sesame Garlic Noodles
Noodles slicked with toasted sesame, soy, and a mountain of garlic — done before the kettle cools.
Ingredients
- 200 g Noodles
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1½ tbsp Toasted sesame oil
- 2 tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 1 tbsp Neutral oil
- 2 Scallions (optional)
- 1 tsp Sesame seeds (optional)
Method
- Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Boil the noodles until just tender, then reserve a splash of the cooking water and drain them.
- Mince the garlic and slice the scallions.
- Sizzle the minced garlic gently in the neutral oil in a wide pan over medium-low until pale gold — not brown.
- Take the pan off the heat and stir in the soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil.
- Toss the drained noodles through the sauce with a splash of their cooking water until glossy.
- Top the noodles with the scallions and sesame seeds and eat them hot or at room temperature.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Sesame Garlic Noodles
Sesame garlic noodles belong to the quick weeknight end of the Chinese noodle repertoire, a cousin of the oil-slicked scallion and soy noodles served across home kitchens and street stalls. What defines the dish is its restraint: there's no long-simmered sauce, just noodles coated in a glaze built from toasted sesame oil, soy, and a generous amount of garlic gently coaxed to pale gold. A splash of the starchy cooking water pulls everything together so the sauce clings rather than pools, giving each strand a glossy finish. It's the kind of thing you can put together in the time it takes water to boil.
The flavor leans deep and savory, with the nutty roundness of toasted sesame balancing the salt of the soy and a low hum of sweetness from the sugar. Frying the garlic only to pale gold — never brown — keeps it mellow and aromatic instead of bitter, which is the small technique that separates a good version from a scorched one. Raw scallions and sesame seeds on top add fresh bite and crunch against the soft noodles. Eaten hot from the pan or cooled to room temperature, it works as a fast solo lunch, a side to grilled meats or dumplings, or the base you build on with a fried egg or wilted greens.
Sesame Garlic Noodles: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Sesame Garlic Noodles?
A serving has about 561 calories — 15.6g protein, 82g carbs, 18.9g fat, 4.1g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Sesame Garlic Noodles gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Noodles, Soy sauce. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for those ingredients to make it gluten-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Sesame Garlic Noodles?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out scallions, sesame seeds — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Sesame Garlic Noodles make?
This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.