Spicy Tahini Noodles

These healthy, sweet and spicy noodles are simple, creamy, and packed with tons of bold flavor!

Disclosure: The post may contain affiliate links, earning us a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

These Spicy Tahini Noodles are a one-of-a-kind simple recipe that I make often as part of my regular meal rotation. They have a spicy kick thanks to the gochujang (red chili paste) and bold flavors like grated ginger, minced garlic, soy sauce, and creamy tahini. Tahini is an especially versatile ingredient that can be incorporated in a variety of dishes like our No-Bake Tahini Brownie Bites and Lentil Walnut Tacos with Tahini Lime Sauce.

What We Love About These Noodles

Ready in Minutes: Have this ready in the short time it takes to boil noodles. All the other ingredients are whisked together in a bowl as the noodles cook. Pour the sauce over the drained hot linguine (or whatever pasta you choose), and voilà, dinner is ready in a flash! Pair with steamed broccoli for a well-rounded meal.

Big, Bold Flavors: Your taste buds will be engaged with the indulgence of these sweet and spicy noodles. Gochujang gives the noodles heat and depth, while the maple syrup lends its perfect sweetness. The ginger, garlic, soy sauce, tahini, and sesame seed oil combine to create layers of intense (yet completely addictive) flavor.

Customizable Heat: Not a huge fan of spicy food? Turn down the heat by using less gochujang. Want to kick it up a notch? Increase the gochujang slowly by adding ½ tablespoon at a time. Taste as you go and add more heat until the perfect spiciness level is achieved.

Healthy and Plant-Based: This recipe is completely plant-based and offers a good balance of protein, fat, and complex carbohydrates. This combo is ideal for lasting energy and satiety throughout the day.

Healthy Ingredients in Spicy Tahini Noodles

Healthy Whole Grains
We choose whole-grain or high-protein noodles (like chickpea or lentil pasta) to keep this recipe healthy and menopause-friendly. Healthy whole grains are fibrous and digest slowly, thus preventing blood sugar spikes and energy crashes. High-protein pasta does the same and adds a bit more protein.

Tahini
Tahini, made from ground sesame seeds, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and phytosterols (which help reduce cholesterol). It also is a good source of lignans. With anti-cancer compounds, lignans may have powerful benefits for reducing breast cancer risk.

Ginger
Ginger is one of my favorite spices. It adds a fresh, bright flavor to food, helps calm upset stomachs, and can aid in digestion and pain reduction naturally.

How to Make Spicy Tahini Noodles

See the full recipe card with measurements and instructions below.

What You’ll Need:

Sauce Ingredients:

• tahini
• low-sodium soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
• maple syrup
• fresh lime juice
• freshly grated ginger
• minced garlic
• gochujang
• sesame seed oil
• water (to thin)

Other:

• linguine noodles (whole grain or high-protein)
• sesame seeds (for garnish)

How to Make This Recipe:

1. First, cook the linguine noodles in a large pot of boiling water until al dente. You can also just follow the package instructions.

2. Meanwhile, combine all of the sauce ingredients (except the water) in a medium-sized bowl by whisking together the tahini, coconut aminos, maple syrup, lime juice, ginger, garlic, gochujang, and sesame seed oil. Now, add water to the sauce one tablespoon at a time until you reach a consistency that is similar to a pourable dressing.

3. Once the noodles are cooked, drain them in a colander and transfer them to a large mixing bowl (or back into the pot). Pour the sauce over the noodles and stir them gently, making sure all the noodles are completely saturated.

4. Serve up a large helping of these yummy noodles sprinkled with sesame seeds. These noodles would go well with a side of steamed broccoli or bok choy.

Notes & Storage

Storage: These Spicy Tahini Noodles can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days in an airtight container. To reheat, add them to a saucepan along with a splash of water (to loosen the noodles) and heat on low, stirring gently until heated through. Freezing is not advised.

Notes:

• Adjust the heat by adding more or less gochujang.
• Try different noodles for variety. Brown rice noodles, any shape of whole-grain pasta, chickpea pasta, or lentil pasta.
• Add a splash of water to the sauce to thin it out as needed since it tends to thicken a bit as it cools.
• Complete the meal by preparing a side of steamed broccoli, edamame, or bok choy.
• Boost the protein with tofu or tempeh.
• Topping ideas include toasted sesame seeds, sliced green onions, or cilantro.