Lyn found this recipe and thought it would be good for our no meat Monday meal. It was! I love the taste of toasted sesame oil and have never used sesame paste so I thought give it a try. Couldn’t find it in the grocery stores in our area and seeing that there were no chinses markets close enough so it was Amazon to the rescue.

Ingredients

• 1 lbs. fresh noodles or dry 8 oz..

Sesame sauce

• 4 tbsp (1/4 cup) Chinese sesame paste.
• 1 tbsp Mayonnaise.
• 1 tsp Chili Oil (divided – 2 tsp and 1 tsp).
• 2 tsp sesame oil (divided 1tsp-1 tsp).
• 3 tbsp light soy sauce.
• 5 tsp Chinese/Taiwanese black vinegar.
• 4 tsp water .
• 1 tsp Chinese/Taiwanese black vinegar rice vinegar or even wine. vinegar is fine if you can’t find this.
• 4 tsp fine sugar.
• 1 tsp garlic crushed.
• 1 ½ fresh grated ginger.
• ½ tsp fine salt to taste.
• 1 tsp ground white pepper or a very generous grind of black pepper to taste.

Other optional ingredients

• 4 hardboiled eggs
• 160 g beansprouts (2 handfuls)
• 4 scallions thinly sliced.
• Persian or mini cucumber sliced in matchstick size.

Instructions

1. Bring 3 quarts of slightly salted water to boil in a large pot. Add noodles and reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, 3-5 minutes until almost tender. See package instructions.  The center of noodles should be firm and slightly opaque.     Meanwhile place 1 tsp sesame oil in large bowl.
2. Drain noodles very well in colander add to bowl and mix to coat. Transfer to baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Refrigerate until cold, about 20 minutes.
3. While this is cooling whisk together sesame paste, mayonnaise, 2 tsp of chili oil and remaining 1 tsp sesame oil. Now add soy sauce, vinegar, water, sugar, 1 tsp garlic, and ginger and whisk until smooth.  Season dressing with remaining chili oil and ½ teaspoon of garlic.  Add noodles and toss until well combined.
4. Divide noodles evenly among serving bowls and garnish your choice cucumber, scallions, eggs and bean sprouts or have these on separate plate for others to garnish how they wish.

Info

Chinese sesame paste and tahini are both made from sesame seeds, but they have different ingredients and flavors:

Ingredients

Chinese sesame paste is made from toasted sesame seeds, while tahini is made from raw sesame seeds.

Flavor

Chinese sesame paste has a stronger, nuttier flavor, similar to unsalted peanut butter and fresh-pressed sesame oil. Tahini has an earthy, slightly bitter flavor, with a toasted sesame seed flavor that’s not as sweet as peanut butter