Name: Chile Crisp Sesame Noodles
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 3 medium carrots; 1/4 cup neutral cooking oil (such as grapeseed oil or peanut oil); 1/4 cup zhi ma jiang (Chinese toasted sesame paste) or tahini; 1/4 cup soy sauce; 3 tablespoons Chinese black vinegar or balsamic vinegar; 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil; 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger (from a 2-inch piece); 2 teaspoons grated garlic (from 4 medium garlic cloves); 2 teaspoons honey; 5 tablespoons spicy chile crisp, divided; 1 to 2 tablespoons water, if needed; 1 pound fresh lo mein noodles or uncooked spaghetti or fettuccine; 3 cups packed fresh baby spinach (about 3 1/2 ounces); 3 medium scallions, thinly sliced on an angle (about 1/2 cup); Toasted sesame seeds

Active Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

25 mins

Yield:

4 servings

We love noodles that are faster — and tastier — than takeout, and happen to be delicious when warm, room temperature, or eaten straight out of the refrigerator. Feel free to customize your noodles by adding sliced cucumber, blanched and shelled edamame, steamed broccoli florets, shredded rotisserie chicken, steamed and peeled shrimp, soft boiled eggs, or fried cubed tofu.

Chile Crisp Sesame Noodles — Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Frequently asked questions

What are lo mein noodles?

Lo mein noodles are wheat noodles made with egg, and have a slightly chewy texture. They are sold both fresh and precooked. Use fresh but not cooked noodles in this recipe. You can substitute spaghetti or fettuccine noodles for a similar flavor, but they won’t have the same texture.

What is the difference between Chinese sesame paste and tahini?

The two are not the same. Chinese sesame paste, or zhi ma jiang, is made by grinding deeply toasted sesame seeds into a paste, giving it a darker color and richer flavor. Tahini is made with ground untoasted or lightly toasted sesame seeds, and is lighter in color with a less pronounced flavor. You can use either in this recipe.

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

If you can, select fatter carrots to use in this dish — they are easier to cut into planks. If you are using tahini instead of zhi ma jiang (Chinese toasted sesame paste), add a splash of toasted sesame oil to the dish to amplify the sesame flavor.

Make ahead

This is a great dish to make ahead. Store the noodles in an airtight container for up to five days, and if they clump together after chilling overnight, you can toss them with one to two teaspoons of toasted sesame oil or water to help loosen things up.

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Ingredients

3 medium carrots
1/4 cup neutral cooking oil (such as grapeseed oil or peanut oil)
1/4 cup zhi ma jiang (Chinese toasted sesame paste) or tahini
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons Chinese black vinegar or balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger (from a 2-inch piece)
2 teaspoons grated garlic (from 4 medium garlic cloves)
2 teaspoons honey
5 tablespoons spicy chile crisp, divided
1 to 2 tablespoons water, if needed
1 pound fresh lo mein noodles or uncooked spaghetti or fettuccine
3 cups packed fresh baby spinach (about 3 1/2 ounces)
3 medium scallions, thinly sliced on an angle (about 1/2 cup)
Toasted sesame seeds

Directions

Working with 1 carrot at a time, cut carrots crosswise into 2- to 3-inch pieces. Cut off a thin slice lengthwise from each carrot piece to create a flat edge. Lay the carrot flat on a cutting board. Cut lengthwise into thin (about 1/8-inch-thick) planks. Stack a few of the planks together, and slice them lengthwise into thin (about 1/8-inch-thick) strips.
Whisk together the cooking oil, sesame paste, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, honey, and 3 tablespoons of the spicy chile crisp in a large bowl. The sauce should be thin and pourable; whisk in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed to thin. Set aside.
Cook the noodles according to package directions, adding carrots and spinach during the final 30 seconds of cooking time. Drain well, and add to sauce in the bowl; toss to coat. (Dressed noodles can be served warm, chilled, or at room temperature.)
To serve, drizzle noodle mixture with remaining 2 tablespoons chile crisp. Sprinkle with scallions, and garnish with sesame seeds.