Easy Saucy Sesame Beef Noodles Recipe
This easy saucy sesame beef noodles recipe is a comforting and flavorful dish that brings together tender beef, savory sesame sauce, and noodles for a delicious meal. The sauce deepens in flavor as it sits, making it a great option for meal prep or quick dinners with an Asian-inspired twist.
Ingredients
- Kosher salt
- 1 pound spaghetti or any long noodle of choice
- 1 medium yellow onion thinly sliced
- 1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, grated
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 4 tablespoons sesame oil divided
- 1 pound shaved beef or 1 pound sirloin/ribeye steak, sliced as thinly as possible
- 1 10-ounce bag shredded carrots
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 2 tablespoons sriracha, sambal oelek, or gochujang
- 1½ tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
Optional Toppings:
- Chopped fresh cilantro and/or basil
- Sesame seeds
- Chopped peanuts
- Extra sriracha
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Before draining, set aside 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then return the drained pasta to the pot.
- While the pasta cooks, prepare the aromatics and vegetables. Thinly slice the onion, mince the garlic, and grate the ginger.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the sliced onion and sauté, stirring frequently, until softened (about 4 minutes). Pour in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and add the shaved beef. Let it sear briefly before stirring. Add the shredded carrots, grated ginger, and minced garlic. Stir everything together and cook until the beef is nearly done but still slightly pink, about 3 to 4 minutes. Push everything to one side of the skillet.
- In the open space of the skillet, pour in ½ cup of the reserved pasta water, then add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, tahini, sriracha, honey, and fish sauce. Stir everything together until the sauce starts to blend, then mix it with the beef and vegetables. Let it simmer for another minute until slightly thickened.
- Transfer the beef mixture into the pot with the cooked pasta. Toss everything together, adding small splashes of the reserved pasta water as needed to coat the noodles in a glossy sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt if necessary.
- Serve the noodles in bowls and garnish with any of the optional toppings for added texture and flavor. Enjoy!
Notes
Meal Prep Tip: The flavors intensify over time, so leftovers taste even better the next day.
Quick Cooking Hack: If you prefer, you can mix all sauce ingredients directly in the pan rather than dirtying a separate bowl. Everything will blend as you stir.
Protein Substitutes: Try using thinly sliced chicken, pork, or even tofu for a different take on the dish.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!