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Taiwanese Sesame Noodles (Ma Jiang Mian)

Salty, sweet, creamy, and nutty - all in one bite!
Servings 2 people
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 400 grams fresh wheat noodles or 200g dried noodles
  • 1 tbsp Taiwanese sesame paste zhi ma jiang
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp Chinese black vinegar
  • 1.5 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1.5 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 2 tsp chili oil
  • 1/4 cup starch water from cooking noodles

Toppings

  • 1 scallion chopped
  • 1 cucumber julienned
  • 1/2 tsp sesame seeds

Instructions

  • In a bowl, combine the sesame paste, peanut butter, sesame oil, black vinegar, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, chili oil, and sugar. Set aside.
  • Cook the noodles based on the package instructions. *The starch water should be thick to help create a rich thick sauce. Allow the water to come up to about an inch above the noodles when cooking.*
  • Transfer the noodles to a bowl and start by adding 1/4 starch water. Add the sauce on top of the noodles and mix well. If the sauce is too thick, you can add more starch water.
  • Garnish with scallions, cucumbers and sesame seeds.

Notes

  1. Taiwanese Sesame Paste (Zhi Ma Jiang) is one of the key ingredients that gives this dish its distinct flavor, however, it is not to be mistaken for tahini.
  2. You can be creative with your garnish. Some optional ingredients include cucumber, green onion, cilantro, chili oil, and crushed sesame seeds. You can also sprinkle some crushed peanuts for the extra nutty goodness.
  3. This dish can also be served cold. Rinse the noodles in cold water after it is cooked, then drain in a colander. Mix with sauce and enjoy!
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Taiwanese