Sesame Shrimp Peanut Noodles: Your Ultimate Guide to a Quick & Flavorful Cold Dish

If you’re constantly craving a dish that’s both satisfying and refreshingly light, then these Thai-inspired peanut noodles with sesame shrimp are an absolute must-try. Tossed in a vibrant sweet chili peanut sauce, this recipe offers a delicious escape from routine meals. Served cold, it’s the perfect solution for those sweltering days when a heavy meal feels unappealing, providing a fantastic alternative to yet another salad without compromising on flavor or heartiness.

The Unexpected Joy of Grocery Shopping and Culinary Discovery

How do you feel about grocery shopping? While many find it a chore, I genuinely enjoy the process. For me, it’s an adventure, a treasure hunt leading to fantastic culinary creations. Just recently, my craving for a specific breakfast pairing led me to buy coconut yogurt and fresh strawberries – a simple pleasure that ignited a new meal idea. I rarely buy ingredients I’m not excited to cook with, and frankly, who does? This passion for ingredient discovery often leads me to unique places.

A few weeks ago, in my Salted Caramel Affogatos post, I briefly mentioned “The Strip” in Pittsburgh. It’s an incredible area brimming with local businesses, including a diverse array of ethnic grocery stores. Whether you’re searching for a specific spice from the Middle East, authentic Mexican chiles, Greek olives, Italian pasta, or exotic Asian ingredients, you’ll likely find it there. Even when I have no particular item in mind, I love browsing the aisles, soaking in the different cultures and possibilities.

Given my love for Asian cuisine, one Saturday afternoon found me exploring no less than four Asian grocery stores in The Strip – all within a few blocks of each other! It was an experience in itself. I even encountered durian for the first time in person, an intriguing sight even if I wasn’t planning on buying it. Among the four, I quickly identified a favorite, drawn by its reasonable prices and the clear labeling (mostly!). Here, I stocked up on gunpowder green tea (which I later learned meant loose-leaf tea), shiitake mushrooms, and a package of what I believed to be udon noodles. The package wasn’t in English, but the noodles looked identical to another, more expensive package explicitly labeled “udon.” Trusting my gut and my budget, I opted for the cheaper option, a decision that eventually led to this delightful recipe.

From Inspiration to Plate: Crafting the Perfect Peanut Noodles

With my newfound udon noodles in hand, the question arose: what to make? For the longest time, I had been eager to try my hand at peanut noodles, a recipe that had caught my eye in one of Nigella Lawson’s cookbooks. While her recipe didn’t specifically call for udon, I knew their neutral flavor and satisfying chewiness would be a perfect match. I decided to build upon her concept, adding my own twist to create these vibrant Sesame Shrimp Peanut Noodles. This dish has quickly become a household favorite, having made its way to our table at least half a dozen times already.

The beauty of peanut noodles lies in their versatility, particularly the fact that they are typically served cold. This makes them an absolute dream for those scorching summer days when a hot meal is the last thing you want. It’s a light, yet incredibly flavorful option that stands miles apart from a standard salad. While there’s a small amount of cooking involved, the process is remarkably quick and efficient. The udon noodles require only about 4-5 minutes to boil to al dente perfection, and the shrimp cooks in a mere 3-5 minutes until plump and pink. Cook them simultaneously, and you’re looking at a total of just five minutes of active cooking time!

Once your noodles and shrimp are ready, the magic happens. Everything is tossed together with a creamy, sweet chili peanut sauce. This dressing, a harmonious blend of sweet, savory, and a hint of spice, coats every strand of noodle and every piece of shrimp, infusing the entire dish with irresistible flavor. After a brief chill in the refrigerator – at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the noodles to cool – your sensational cold lunch or dinner is ready to be devoured. It’s meal prep-friendly, easy to transport, and packed with flavor, making it an ideal choice for busy weekdays or relaxed weekends.

Udon Noodles: The Star of Your Cold Noodle Dish

Let’s talk about udon noodles – the unsung heroes of this recipe. These thick, chewy Japanese wheat noodles are celebrated for their wonderfully neutral flavor profile, which makes them incredibly versatile. Their mild taste acts as a perfect canvas, allowing them to readily absorb and carry the robust flavors of the sweet chili peanut sauce. This characteristic is precisely why they are the ideal choice for dishes like our peanut noodles, where the sauce is the undeniable star.

Cooking udon noodles is remarkably straightforward, much like preparing spaghetti, but with a significantly shorter cooking time. Most varieties will be perfectly al dente in just about 4 minutes. You’ll find them becoming increasingly common in the international or Asian cuisine aisle of most regular grocery stores. Keep an eye out for them; their distinctive thick, white appearance is hard to miss. If, by some chance, you’re unable to locate udon noodles, don’t despair! You can use alternatives like linguine, fettuccine, or even spaghetti. However, for the authentic texture and mouthfeel that truly elevates this dish, I highly recommend making udon your first choice. The thick, bouncy chewiness of udon simply cannot be replicated by thinner pasta. If you’re buying an unlabeled package like I did, look for thick, round, white wheat noodles.

Customize Your Cold Noodles: Endless Variations

One of the many charms of these sesame shrimp peanut noodles is their incredible adaptability. This recipe is an excellent way to use up leftover produce lingering in your refrigerator, minimizing food waste and encouraging creativity in the kitchen. While sugar snap peas add a delightful crunch and sweetness, feel free to experiment with other vegetables. I often swap them out for blanched broccoli florets, crisp edamame, or even sautéed mushrooms, which I cook alongside the shrimp for an extra layer of umami flavor. The inclusion of fresh carrots, green onions, and bell peppers not only adds a burst of color but also contributes vital nutrients and varying textures.

Don’t have shrimp on hand, or prefer a different protein? No problem! This recipe is incredibly forgiving. Cooked chicken breast, thinly sliced and tossed in the sauce, makes an excellent substitute. For a vegetarian option, consider pan-fried tofu or tempeh cubes, or simply double up on the vegetables for a robust and flavorful plant-based meal. You can also adjust the spice level to your preference by adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce or garnishing with a drizzle of sriracha. The beauty of this recipe is that there’s truly no wrong way to make it your own – let your pantry and your cravings guide you!

More Delicious Shrimp Recipes to Explore

• Baked Coconut Shrimp with Mango Jalapeño Dipping Sauce
• Crispy Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
• Grilled Pineapple Shrimp Teriyaki Kabobs
• Spicy Beer Shrimp Skewers

Sesame Shrimp Peanut Noodles

Yield:
4 servings

Prep Time:
25 minutes

Cook Time:
5 minutes

Total Time:
30 minutes

Craving a quick, refreshing meal? These Thai peanut noodles with sesame shrimp, tossed in a sweet chili peanut sauce, are perfect for a cold lunch or dinner!

Ingredients

Peanut Sauce

• 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce (homemade or store bought)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon garlic paste (or 1 large garlic clove, minced)
• 1 tablespoon cilantro paste (or 1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro)

Shrimp & Noodles

• 4 ounces dry udon noodles
• 1 cup frozen or fresh sugar snap peas
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 pound raw medium shrimp, peeled, deveined, and patted dry
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1 medium bell pepper, seeded and cut into small strips

Instructions

1. Prepare the Peanut Sauce: In a large measuring cup or bowl, whisk together the creamy peanut butter, sweet chili sauce, olive oil, soy sauce, lime juice, garlic paste, and cilantro paste until smooth and well combined. Set aside.
2. Cook Noodles and Peas: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the udon noodles and cook for 4 minutes. Then, add the sugar snap peas to the boiling water and continue to cook for an additional minute. Drain the noodles and peas thoroughly and immediately rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking. Drain again very well and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
3. Sauté the Shrimp: While the noodles are cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the peeled, deveined, and patted dry shrimp along with the sesame seeds. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the shrimp turn pink and are no longer transparent. Be careful not to overcook them.
4. Combine and Chill: Add the cooked shrimp, chopped carrots, sliced green onions, and bell pepper strips to the large bowl with the drained noodles and sugar snap peas. Pour the prepared peanut sauce over all the ingredients. Mix thoroughly, ensuring everything is evenly coated in the delicious sauce. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or until completely chilled, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully. Serve cold and enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

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This recipe is a delightful adaptation inspired by the renowned Nigella Lawson, brought to life with my own fresh twists and vibrant additions. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!