Cold Sesame Noodles With Shredded Chicken

Zoesmama's Note:

So easy and delicious! Don't be afraid of all of the steps - it really is an easy recipe! You can save time by making and shredding the chicken the day before. This recipe was featured on America's Test Kitchen and printed in Cooks Illustrated magazine. I tweaked it a bit, but the basic recipe is in tact. My family LOVES this dish and I am asked to make it quite often.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 40 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• ¼ cup toasted sesame seeds
• ¼ cup creamy peanut butter (Jif recommended)
• 2 medium garlic cloves , minced
• fresh ginger , grated or minced (about 1 tbsp, I use the minced ginger that comes in a jar)
• 5 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce (like Tabasco)
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• hot water
• 1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons salt , divided
• 1 lb fresh Chinese noodles or 1 lb spaghetti
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 4 scallions or 4 green onions , sliced thin on diagonal
• 1 medium carrot , peeled and grated on large holes of box grater (about 2/3 cup) (optional)
• ½ cucumber , sliced on box grater and chopped into matchstick-sized pieces (optional)
• crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions:

1. First, make the shredded chicken. (As noted above, you can do this the day before and just take the shredded chicken out of the refrigerator before you begin the final preparations.) Boil 4 qts. of water with one tablespoon of salt. When the water reaches a boil, add the chicken and cook for about 20-25 minutes.
2. Pour out the water and allow the chicken to cool on a cutting board or in a bowl.
3. If you are unable to find toasted sesame seeds, toast the sesame seeds in a medium skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Reserve 1 tablespoon sesame seeds in a small bowl.
4. In a blender or small food processor, puree the remaining 3 tablespoons sesame seeds, peanut butter, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, vinegar, hot sauce, and sugar until smooth, about 30 seconds. With the machine running, add hot water 1 tablespoon at a time until the sauce has the consistency of heavy cream, about 5 tablespoons; set the mixture aside (it can be left in the blender jar or food processor workbowl). If you wish, add the crushed red pepper for a little zing. (Start with 1/8 of a teaspoon and go from there.).
5. Bring 5 quarts water and the other tablespoon of salt to a boil in a stockpot over high heat. While you wait for the water to boil, you can shred your chicken.
6. Using 2 forks, shred the chicken into small, bite-sized pieces and set aside.
7. Add the noodles to the boiling water and cook them according to the directions on the package (about 4 minutes for fresh and 10 minutes for dried pasta).
8. Drain the noodles, return them to the pot, then rinse them again with cold running tap water until they are cool to the touch; drain them again.
9. In a large bowl, toss the noodles with the sesame oil until evenly coated. Add the shredded chicken, scallions, carrot, and sauce; toss to combine. Divide among individual bowls, sprinkle each bowl with a portion of reserved sesame seeds, and cucumber decoration and serve.

Reviews

[Kamark]

What a wonderful, tasty recipe! We'll definitely make it again. We replaced the sugar with agave nectar and the fresh ginger with dried, and those changes didn't detract from it at all.

[JT'sMom]

I could not have picked a better recipe for record breaking triple digit temps. here in Seattle. If you are looking for a meal for a hot spell, STOP this is it!! I will make it often no matter what the weather may be, it's insanely delicious. I made as posted but left out the hot sauce and red pepper flakes (did not want any additional heat, lol). I really recommend adding the optional carrot and cucumber. I think sliced pea pods would also be a great addition. I know fresh Chinese noodles would have been better, but had to use spaghetti. Thank you Zoesmama for posting this wonderful recipe!!

[Meggers718]

These taste amazing! My husband requests them weekly! Thanks for a tasty, simple dinner.