Spicy Chinese-Inspired Noodles Recipe

Noodles are without a doubt a huge fan favorite of many and can be made in hundreds of delicious and creative ways. Get ready to enjoy a bowl of bold flavors and fiery spices as this dish takes your love for noodles to a whole new level. Inspired by the vibrant culinary traditions of China, these noodles are a delicious fusion of heat and savory goodness. You can enjoy them as a side dish or bulk them up with your protein of choice. 

Wellness coach and recipe developer Miriam Hahn brings us this recipe for spicy Chinese-inspired noodles recipe and says, "I make all kinds of noodles in my cooking and this recipe is one of my favorites because it can be made in under 15 minutes and pairs so well with a variety of protein choices. If you don't like things too spicy you can easily cut down on the chili garlic paste to suit your level of heat preference."

Gather the ingredients for spicy Chinese-inspired noodles

To make this recipe, start in the produce aisle and pick up some mushrooms, garlic, and scallions. Then head over to the dry goods area and grab some rice noodles, tahini, sesame oil, fermented bean paste, maple syrup, soy sauce, and chili garlic paste. "You may have to visit an Asian grocery store for the fermented bean paste or order it online. Don't skip it though — it adds a salty umami flavor that really makes the dish," Hahn remarks.

Prep the ingredients

To start, get the water going for the noodles. You'll follow the package instructions for cooking time, but they typically only take about 4 minutes. When they're done, drain and rinse them in cold water. Then let's slice up the mushrooms, mince the garlic, and chop the scallions. We're going to be sautéing the white part of the scallions and topping our finished noodles with the green part, so put those in separate bowls when you are cutting.

Sauté the vegetables

Pull out a large frying pan, add the oil, and bring the heat to medium high. Drop in the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, then add the mushrooms, and the white portion of the scallions. We'll need to cook that for about 8 to 10 minutes stirring frequently. We're going for soft mushrooms that have reduced in size. "If the pan gets dry, just add a splash of water so the vegetables don't stick to the pan," Hahn explains.

Make the sauce, combine and serve

While the vegetables are cooking, we can quickly whip up our delicious umami sauce. In a small bowl combine the tahini, water, 2 tablespoons of sesame oil, fermented bean paste, maple syrup, soy sauce, and chili garlic paste. Stir with a whisk to blend it well. Now it's time to combine everything in the pan. Add the cooked noodles and sauce and stir to distribute the sauce. Then top with the green chopped scallions and toss on some toasted sesame seeds if desired for some extra crunch.

The spicy Chinese-inspired noodles are ready to serve. These noodles pair well with this General Tso tofu, chicken, or fish and can be made ahead to add a little spiciness to any entree. Hahn tells us the noodles will keep well in the fridge for several days if kept in an airtight container.

Spicy Chinese-Inspired Noodles Recipe
5 (23 ratings)
Learn how to make a spicy noodle dish inspired by Chinese cuisine with this easy recipe.
Prep Time
10
minutes
Cook Time
14
minutes
Servings
4
Servings
3 bowls of noodles
Total time: 24 minutes
Ingredients
  • 12 ounces Chinese rice noodles
  • 1 carton (8-ounces) mushrooms
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 3 scallions
  • ¼ cup tahini
  • ¼ cup water
  • 3 tablespoons sesame oil, divided
  • 2 tablespoons fermented bean paste
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon chili garlic paste
Optional Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup toasted sesame seeds
Directions
  1. Cook the noodles according to the package instructions. This will usually take around 4 minutes. When they are done, drain and rinse in cold water.
  2. Slice the mushrooms, mince the garlic, and chop the scallions separating the chopped white parts and green parts.
  3. Add 1 tablespoon sesame oil to a large frying pan and bring the heat to medium high. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, then add the mushrooms, and the white portion of the scallions. Saute on medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until the mushrooms are soft and have reduced in size.
  4. Make the sauce by combining the tahini, water, 2 tablespoons of sesame oil, fermented bean paste, maple syrup, soy sauce, and chili garlic paste. Stir with a whisk to blend. It will thicken slightly as it sits.
  5. When the mushroom mixture is done, add the noodles and sauce to the pan. Top with the green part of the scallions and add sesame seeds if desired. The spicy Chinese-inspired noodles are ready to serve.
Nutrition
Calories per Serving 558
Total Fat 19.5 g
Saturated Fat 2.8 g
Trans Fat 0.0 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Total Carbohydrates 84.7 g
Dietary Fiber 4.2 g
Total Sugars 8.2 g
Sodium 935.3 mg
Protein 11.6 g
The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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