Asian Garlic Noodle Bowl (Print Version)

Tender noodles in garlic-butter sauce with soy and sesame. Quick, savory, and adaptable to your dietary preferences.

# What You'll Need:

→ Noodles

01 - 10 oz wheat noodles (lo mein, spaghetti, or ramen)

→ Sauce

02 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 5 cloves garlic, finely minced
04 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
05 - 1 tbsp dark soy sauce (for color and depth)
06 - 1 tbsp oyster sauce
07 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
08 - 1 tsp sugar

→ Toppings & Garnishes

09 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
10 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
11 - 1 small red chili, thinly sliced
12 - Fresh cilantro leaves
13 - 1 cup bean sprouts
14 - 1 small carrot, julienned

# How To Make:

01 - Cook the noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
02 - In a large skillet or wok, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
03 - Stir in the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and sugar. Mix well to combine.
04 - Add the cooked noodles to the skillet. Toss thoroughly to coat the noodles evenly in the sauce.
05 - Continue to stir-fry for 1–2 minutes until the noodles are heated through and glossy.
06 - Remove from heat. Divide the noodles among serving bowls. Top with green onions, toasted sesame seeds, chili, cilantro, bean sprouts, and carrots as desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than delivery arrives, which means no sad takeout containers cluttering your kitchen.
  • The toasted sesame oil does something almost magical to humble noodles, turning them into something that tastes restaurant-quality without the pretension.
02 -
  • Don't let the garlic brown, even slightly—it transforms from fragrant to acrid in about thirty seconds, and there's no recovery from bitter garlic sauce.
  • The sauce is thin compared to heavy cream-based sauces, but it adheres to the noodles beautifully if you're working quickly and tossing constantly while everything is hot.
03 -
  • If your sauce seems too thin once you add the noodles, you've likely overcooked them—stick to al dente timing religiously because the residual heat continues the cooking process.
  • Make your sauce components in one small bowl before you start cooking, so you can add them all at once and keep your timing tight and stress-free.
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