Cold Sesame Noodles — Ad-Free Recipe, Ingredients First

Toasted sesame oil and real nut butter are basically the whole dish, and thin, watery peanut sauce usually traces back to weak versions of those two. Once the noodles cook, rinse them under cold water and toss with a little oil so they stay slippery and separate rather than clumping into a knot.

The Ingredients — and where to get them

Cook for 4 servings

Wheat noodles

Fresh or dried wheat noodles hold the sauce; cook to just past al dente since they firm up cold.

12 oz

Source it →

Toasted sesame oil

The backbone of the sauce; a fresh bottle smells nutty and toasty, a stale one smells like nothing.

2 tbsp

Source it →

Soy sauce

Salt and color for the sauce; balance it against the sweetness of the nut butter.

3 tbsp

Source it →

Peanut butter

Natural, unsweetened peanut butter loosened with warm water builds the body; sweetened brands throw the balance off.

3 tbsp

Source it →

Chili crisp

Spooned over the top for heat and crunch; the oil is as important as the flakes.

1-2 tbsp

Source it →

Scallions and cucumber

Sliced thin for freshness and crunch against the rich sauce.

to taste

Local / market

The Rundown

Greedometer ●●●●● Barely a splurge

A light hand — your arteries say thanks.

EffortEasy

Cook it with

Stovetop

The Method

SauceWhisk peanut butter with soy, sesame oil, a splash of rice vinegar, and warm water a spoonful at a time until it coats a spoon but still pours.
NoodlesBoil noodles until just past al dente, then drain and rinse hard under cold water to stop the cook and wash off surface starch.
LoosenToss the cold noodles with a teaspoon of sesame oil so they stay separate while you finish everything else.
TossCoat the noodles in the sauce, pile on scallions and cucumber, then finish with chili crisp right before serving so the crunch survives.

The Toolkit

Colander · Whisk

Straight Answers

Can you make Cold Sesame Noodles in an air fryer? — Sometimes

Sometimes — if the pieces are small and cooked dry, an air fryer can handle it in a single layer; anything saucy or liquid needs a pan. When in doubt, the stovetop or oven is the safe call.

Can you freeze Cold Sesame Noodles? — Yes

Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.

Can you make Cold Sesame Noodles ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — it holds well and often tastes better the next day. Make it ahead and reheat gently before serving.

Is Cold Sesame Noodles gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free pasta or noodle (check the other labels too).

Is Cold Sesame Noodles vegan? — Yes

Yes — no meat, seafood, dairy, egg, or honey in it as written.

Community Notes

Cooked it? Changed something that worked? Leave a note for the next person — first-name basis, no account.

Loading notes…

More Chinese recipes

Dan Dan Noodles Congee Potstickers Egg Drop Soup Hot and Sour Soup Kung Pao Chicken

All Chinese recipes → · Browse all 1433 →

Some ingredient and tool links are affiliate links — if you buy through one, 5best2buy may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never costs the maker anything, and it never decides who we recommend. The list is the list.
© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.55

Cold Sesame Noodles, and where to source it