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A bowl of noodles topped with sliced cucumber, halved soft-boiled eggs, sesame seeds, and chopped green onions. The dish is garnished with fresh herbs, and the noodles are coated in a light sauce.

Cold Sesame Noodles (Ma Jiang Mian)

This simple, nutty, and refreshing noodle dish perfect for warm weather or quick meals. The sauce is quick to make and really clings to the noodles.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Course Main Course, main dish
Cuisine asian, Chinese
Servings 4 servings
Calories 675 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the noodles

  • 16 ounces Chinese wheat noodles or thin egg noodles or spaghetti

For the sesame sauce

  • 1/3 cup Chinese or Japanese sesame paste
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon chili oil optional
  • 2 –3 tablespoons warm water as needed to adjust consistency

For garnish

  • 1 cucumber julienned
  • 2 –3 green onions thinly sliced
  • 1 –2 boiled eggs optional
  • Roasted sesame seeds
  • Cilantro optional

Instructions
 

Cook the noodles

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook according to the package instructions, typically 3–5 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water, then set aside.

Prepare the sauce

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame paste, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, and chili oil (if using). Slowly add warm water, mixing until the sauce reaches a smooth, pourable consistency.

Toss the noodles

  • In a large bowl, mix the cooled noodles with the sesame sauce until evenly coated.

Garnish and serve

  • Stir in julienned cucumber and sliced green onions. Divide the noodles among serving bowls.
  • Top each bowl with a boiled egg, a sprinkle of sesame seeds, and fresh cilantro. Drizzle extra chili oil for added spice.

Notes

1. If you prefer a stronger sesame flavor, increase the sesame paste slightly.
2. To make this dish vegan, omit the boiled egg.
3. Leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to two days; just refresh with a splash of water or soy sauce before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 675kcalCarbohydrates: 94gProtein: 22gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 787mgPotassium: 507mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 187IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 76mgIron: 3mg
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