Spicy Cold Sesame Noodles with Black Tea

I’ve never eaten a bad bowl of cold sesame noodles, but some recipes are better than others.

Spicy Cold Sesame Noodles with Black Tea are an especially toothsome cold noodle variation. Their “surprise ingredient,” black tea, adds an aromatic nuance that enhances the recipe’s other flavors.

Tea is the only non-negotiable ingredient in this recipe. Please feel free to play around with everything else: You can use crushed red pepper instead of Sriracha or Tabasco sauce. Lessen or eliminate the vinegar. Add more brown sugar. Vary seasoning to make noodles milder—or searingly hot. (Add Sriracha, crushed red pepper and cayenne.)

In addition to being ultra easy to prepare, these cold noodles please most palates: vegetarians and omnivores, fast-food eaters and epicures, toddlers and teens.

A great lunch or side dish, Spicy Cold Sesame Noodles with Black Tea also make a satisfying dinner when topped with heartier add-ins. Some suggestions:

• Thinly sliced scallions
• Toasted sesame seeds
• Chopped peanuts
• Peeled julienned cucumbers
• Sliced red pepper
• Bean sprouts
• Leftover chicken, meat or tofu

Spicy Cold Sesame Noodles with Black Tea

1 pound thin noodles
½ cup vegetable or chicken broth
½ cup brewed black tea
3 tablespoons dark sesame oil
2 tablespoons peanut or canola oil
2 tablespoons peeled, coarsely grated ginger
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 generous dashes Sriracha or Tabasco sauce
2 tablespoons Demerara or brown sugar
½ cup peanut butter
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 tablespoons soy sauce

1. In a large pasta pot, bring water to boil and add noodles. Rice or buckwheat noodles are nice, put plain spaghetti is also fine.
2. As pasta cooks, blend remaining ingredients together in a bowl or measuring cup.





3. When pasta is done, drain, shaking out water. Dump pasta back into pasta pot.
4. Pour sesame sauce over pasta tossing to coat thoroughly.





5. Scoop noodles into storage container or serving dish, cover and refrigerate until cold.
6. Sprinkle with toppings, see list above, and serve.

Serves 6-8.