Today’s guest post is brought to you by Gillian Nadel, a self-proclaimed foodie living and working in New York City. By day, Gillian works for an entertainment magazine, but spends most of her free time thinking about what or where she’ll eat next. A wise woman once told her that if you like to eat you have to learn to cook (or marry well). She’s still working on both….
This weekend I was invited to a potluck in Central Park. The instructions: bring something to serve 10 people. My first thought? Yikes!
Getting together with a big group is one of my favorite excuses to cook a meal, but it can be labor intensive and expensive. So I challenged myself to cook a one-bowl dish that wouldn’t break the bank, wilt in the heat, or require hours in the kitchen.
For my dish, I was inspired by a friend who recently served this homemade cold sesame noodle dish for a group dinner. The meal was simple but impressive and a little went a long way to feed our hungry crowd! I’ve added red pepper and zucchini to the recipe, but you can get creative and toss in your favorite vegetables or beef this up by adding a protein like tofu or chicken.
And one of the best parts: most of the ingredients are already in your pantry. These sesame noodles taste even better the next day, so go ahead and make this in advance for an easy plan-ahead meal.
Cold Sesame Noodles
What You Need:
1 pound linguini or perciatelle, cooked according to package directions
2/3 cups plus 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1/3 cup toasted sesame oil
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
1 tablespoon grated ginger
2 red bell peppers, julienned
1 zucchini, julienned
Crushed red pepper to taste
3 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 cup chopped scallions
How-To:
Prepare and combine all ingredients (except scallions and sesame seeds) in a big bowl while the water is boiling and the pasta is cooking. When pasta is done, drain completely and toss into the sauce, making sure all pieces of the pasta get covered in sauce. Toss in scallions and sesame seeds before serving. Serve at room temperature. Serves 10.
Print This Recipe
{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
LOVE peanut noodles! I use a recipe based off of Rachael Ray’s version and its always a hit. Very good with almond butter too. This is so perfect for a large get together! Great work!
I have made cold noodles before but never with peanut butter, definately more flavor. I also served mine in lettuce cups for more fun. These look great, perfect snack to have in a fridge on a hot day.
I’ve never enjoyed cold noodles but then I’ve never tried them like this. Peanut butter is a sure winner for me. I like Polwig’s idea of the lettuce cup too.
Oh, how fabulous! I wouldn’t even look at any other dish if I was at your pot luck! Something so tasty about Asian noodle dishes…and yours sounds extraordinary!!!
Such simple ingredients and it looks fantastic. Another great recipe Maris!
Noodles with peanut butter??? I thought I read it wrongly, it does sound exotic to me (pardon me, for I am no fan of nuts, that’s just me:)
These look and sound wonderful. My kind of dish!
looks great adore noodle dishes
OMG, I hate peanuts & peanut butter but I know that you need to use this when making Asian cold sesame noodles. This recipe sounds even better than the one that I have! I can’t wait to try it.
Craving this!!!
I love this because it’s perfect for a picnic, but also unexpected. Great thinking!
This sounds amazing! It’s definitely going to make it into my summer repertoire.
i think this is my husband’s favorite food in the world
I love cold sesame noodles! Yum!
It’s been so humid here in NYC the idea of hot food has been minus 100; this looks perfectly delicious for a hot day in the park!
Yay Gillian!! Brilliant as always. Sesame noodles are a picnic or potluck staple for the Chinese. We don’t usually use PB, but the concept is the same. It’s the best crowd make-ahead dish!
This will be the hit of any picnic!
My husband will be thrilled because it’s pasta, I’ll be thrilled because there’s peanut butter. Great recipe!
love dishes like this- better prepped ahead, and absolutely delicious
You know now that I think about it I have never done cold noodles. I am not sure if I am a cold noodle gal but you sure have be second guessing this because that dish looks super delicious. I love sesame seeds on just about anything and I bet that sauce is wonderful!
Great cold noodle salad for picnics or potlucks. Love that it can be made a day ahead and only get better tasting!
Haha seems like Gillian and I have similar goals. Although I think that the whole learning to cook thing has been more successful than marrying (or even dating) well. Sigh. At least there are good noodle salads to be made and eaten. That makes up for everything.
This is a great picnic option – and I like the fact that it uses two tablespoons of peanut butter – I’ve often struggled with trying to add more and combine it into the salad.
any dish involving peanut butter – noodles included – is an auto fave in my book
.
I could have cold sesame noodles at weekly basis! Looks yuuuuuuuummy!
This is such a great choice for alfresco meals. I happen to love noodles in all forms but I get weak-kneed at even the thought of sesame noodles. Yours sound wonderful. I hope you enjoy the party in the park. Have a great day. Blessings…Mary
love cold noodle dishes like this!
The sesame noodles sound great–a perfect meal for summer!
ooo love the combo of peanutbutter in these noodles!! pb works so well with soy and sesame flavors!
Yuuuum! That looks and sounds so delicious! I’ll have to give this recipe a try! Seems simple enough and with simple ingredients!
We are definitely on the same wave length ’cause I just posted a cold sesame pasta salad recipe today too!
But yours is much different than mine, and it sounds quite interesting with the peanut butter, orange juice and lemon juice.
I’ve never tried peanuts or peanut butter in stir fry or pasta salad. My husband doesn’t care for peanuts/peanut butter. But I might give this a try and use tahini instead of peanut butter. I’m sure that would make for a nice substitute.
I’m bookmarking this and will try it as soon as I get some tahini. I tried to pick some up yesterday at the store but do you believe the shelf was bare? I guess there was a run on tahini. How weird! Anyway, thanks so much for posting the recipe. I can’t wait to try it!
That’s a great idea for a picnic side dish. The flavors sound delicious.
A picnic in central park sounds like so much fun, as does this pasta!
*kisses* HH
I love sesame noodles but have not served them cold before – for some odd reason – what a great warm weather preparation. The lemon and ginger are a beautiful pairing with the peanut butter. Sounds delightful!
Yum! This sounds delicious! I love dishes like this as they tend to be even better the next day, and I am all about delicious leftovers.
Hi there! I found you through this Skinny Chick Can Bake. just going from this recipe, I’m so glad I did! I LOVE sesame noodles and these look fantastic! Definitely going on my to try list.
These noodles look great- adding peanut butter is new to me but sure sounds a lot of fun!
Peanut butter noodles are one of my favorite go-to’s for the summer! The cold noodles on a hot day – nothings better!
Definitely steeling your recipe for a future large group potluck! I can’t think of any dish I cook that could feed 10 people! Noodle salad is a fabulous idea. Everyone loves pasta!
This looks totally delicious, and anything that is one pot works for me – I love the fresh vegetables in there and that you’ve got some sesame seeds, it makes it a really tasty and nutritious meal. Thank you!
This looks awesome… I’ll be trying it for a gathering this weekend! Thanks, Maris!!
This sounds SO delicious! I bet everyone at the potluck loved it… I know I would have!
You won’t believe that I was actually thinking yesterday that I should find a good cold noodle salad recipe! Thanks for sharing this
yumm! this sounds so tasty! perfect for a winter picnic here in Sydney too
Ok, this is ridiculously genius. And not only that, it’s naturally vegan! Will definitely have to be trying this soon.
One of the complications about pot-lucks is the concern about keeping certain things cool, and certain things warm. This looks like it would be delicious regardless of temperature!