Whew! I’m feeling super relieved to have nothing to do for the first time in several weeks. This past weekend, I hosted my sister’s bachelorette weekend, which I’d been planning for months. Thankfully, everything went off without a hitch and everyone had agreat time. I also got the chance to cook for more than two people, which is a rare occurrence, so you guys can look forward to some fun recipe posts from that soon!
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But today, to reflect my relaxed state of mind, I want to share this super simple recipe for orange sesame noodles. This is an easy, healthy dinner that can be thrown together in as little time as it takes to cook your pasta. The sauce is light, slightly sweet, slightly spicy, toasty, and tangy. All you have to do is cook the pasta, whisk together the sauce and reduce, and prep any vegetables you want to add.

The tasty orange sesame sauce recipe can be used for more than noodles, too: it makes a fantastic stir-fry base. You can even make the sauce up to one day ahead and refrigerate until you’re ready to use it—and you can even make the whole dish ahead oftime and serve cold. It couldn’t be easier.

First, start cooking your pasta. While that’s going, start making your sauce by grating one teaspoon of orange zest.

Then, add 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup rice cooking wine, 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, 1 teaspoon chili paste, 1teaspoon crushed garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoons agave syrup or honey, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Whiskeverything together.

Transfer to a small saucepan and heat over high heat until boiling. Cook for 1 minute, then reduce to a simmer and cook for anadditional 3 to 5 minutes or until thickened.

When pasta is cooked (to al dente), drain it and immediately transfer the hot pasta back into the pot. Quickly add snap peas andcover the pot so they steam. (If you’re using other, heartier vegetables, you can steam them separately or even throw themin with the pasta for the last few minutes of cooking.) Then, pour the sauce over the noodles, add toasted sesame seeds, and toss.

Top with sliced scallions to serve. See? Ridiculously easy. Enjoy!

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Orange Sesame Noodles
Serves 4
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8 oz. spaghetti noodles
1 teaspoon orange zest
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup rice cooking wine
2 Tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon chili paste
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons agave syrup (or honey)
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 cups snap peas
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
1/3 cup sliced scallions
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1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
2. While the pasta is cooking, combine orange zest, orange juice, rice cooking wine, soy sauce, chili paste, garlic, agave syrup, cornstarch, and sesame oil in a bowl and whisk together. Transfer to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook for one minute, then reduce to a simmer and cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until thickened.
3. When pasta is done, drain and return hot pasta to pot. Immediately add snap peas and cover the pot, allowing peas to cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly steamed.
4. Pour sauce over top of pasta, add sesame seeds, and toss. Top with scallions and serve.

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Nutrition Facts