Spicy Cold Sesame Noodles with Wilted Greens
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy policy.
This spicy cold sesame noodles with wilted greens recipe is the perfect option for a busy weekday evening. It is ready super quickly and has tons of flavor with just a few ingredients.
Even though we are in quarantine, we are super busy with work and trying to home school our two kids. I find myself turning to quick recipes that just need a few ingredients when making dinner for the family. These spicy sesame noodles are perfect for that and, with a side of wilted greens, you have a full dinner that is so easy!
The spice level of these spicy sesame noodles is easily changed. I like our extra spicy so I use spicy sesame oil and top the dish with sriracha sesame seeds too. You can tone down the spice by using regular sesame oil, cutting down on the crushed red pepper, and using regular sesame seeds as the garnish.
Why You’ll Love This Sesame Noodles Recipe
- Ready Fast! This recipe is ready super quickly which makes it perfect for busy evenings.
- It is very easy to make! You only need a few ingredients to throw this sesame noodle recipe together.
- Make it ahead! Since these cold sesame noodles are good at room temperature, hot, or even (as the name suggests) cold, you can easily make them ahead of time.
- Variation Friendly! You can easily change the spice level of this dish. Or, if you prefer a different type of vegetable, you can swap out the wilted greens. Adding protein is another option.
Spicy Sesame Noodles Ingredients
- Garlic
- Soy Sauce – Feel free to substitute tamari here. If you use coconut aminos, I recommend adding 1/2 teaspoon of fish sauce too.
- Sesame Oil – I like a chili spiced oil for added spice but that is totally optional.
- Rice Vinegar
- Coconut Sugar – Brown sugar would work here in a pinch.
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Spaghetti
- Baby Bok Choy or Baby Spinach
- Salt and pepper
- Sesame Seeds – You make these peanut sesame noodles and replace these with crushed peanuts.
When I am feeling a lighter meal, I swap out the spaghetti for zucchini noodles. It is a great way to lower the carb count on this dish but still keep lots of the flavor.
For the wilted greens, I prefer baby spinach but also use kale or baby bok choy depending on what I have in the refrigerator. A combination of any of these would be great too. If choosing baby bok choy, it may take a little longer to cook than the baby spinach.
More Quick Dinner Recipes
If you love this recipe for spicy sesame noodles with wilted greens, be sure to try these other quick dinner recipes:
- 15 Minute Thai Peanut Noodles
- Seared Tuna with Soba Noodle Salad
- Teriyaki Shrimp Vegetable Noodles
- Spaghetti with Peppers and Onions
- Stovetop Cube Steak with Gravy
Spicy Sesame Noodles with Wilted Greens
Ingredients
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons toasted sesame oil divided
- 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1/2 Tablespoon coconut sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 2 cups baby bok choy or baby spinach
- Salt and pepper
- 2 Tablespoons sesame seeds
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti according package directions. Reserve 1/4 cooking water and then drain.1 pound spaghetti
- In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cloves garlic, soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, rice vinegar, coconut sugar, and crushed red pepper. Toss with hot pasta.4 cloves garlic, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 Tablespoons toasted sesame oil, 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar, 1/2 Tablespoon coconut sugar, 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- In a large saute pan, heat remaining 1 Tbsp sesame oil. Add greens and remaining garlic. Cook until greens are just wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Stir into pasta, adding reserved pasta water by tablespoon amounts if needed. Top with sesame seeds just before serving.2 cups baby bok choy or baby spinach, Salt and pepper, 2 Tablespoons sesame seeds
Notes
- To make this extra spicy, I use hot sesame oil and Sriracha sesame seeds.
- The noodles can be served cold, hot, or room temperature. The greens are best served immediately after cooking.
Nutrition
