15-Minute Asian Noodle Bowl (Printable version)

Grilled shrimp, sesame noodles, crisp vegetables, and tangy dressing come together in just 15 minutes.

# Ingredients list:

→ Shrimp & Marinade

01 - 7 oz large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
03 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
04 - 1 teaspoon honey
05 - 1 clove garlic, minced
06 - 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
07 - 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes

→ Noodles & Sauce

08 - 5 oz dried Asian wheat noodles or rice noodles
09 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
10 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
11 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
13 - 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili sauce
14 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

→ Fresh Toppings

15 - 1 small carrot, julienned
16 - 1/2 cucumber, julienned
17 - 2 spring onions, sliced
18 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
19 - 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
20 - Lime wedges for serving

# Steps:

01 - In a bowl, combine shrimp with soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, garlic, ginger, and chili flakes. Toss to coat evenly and set aside while preparing remaining components.
02 - Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to halt cooking and remove excess starch.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, sriracha, and toasted sesame seeds until fully combined.
04 - Add cooked noodles to the sauce mixture and toss thoroughly until all noodles are evenly coated.
05 - Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Grill marinated shrimp for 1 to 2 minutes per side until pink and cooked through.
06 - Divide dressed noodles between serving bowls. Top with grilled shrimp and arrange carrot, cucumber, spring onions, cilantro, and red bell pepper on top. Serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The whole thing comes together faster than delivery arrives, which feels like actual magic on a weeknight.
  • Grilled shrimp gets this smoky sweetness that transforms humble pantry noodles into something restaurant-quality.
  • You can prep your veggie toppings while the noodles cook, so there's genuine downtime built in.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cold water rinse on the noodles or they'll continue cooking and turn mushy while you're grilling the shrimp.
  • The pan absolutely must be hot before the shrimp goes in, or they'll steam instead of developing that crucial caramelized crust.
03 -
  • Buy pre-peeled shrimp if your budget allows it because the time saved is worth every penny when you're working with 15 minutes total.
  • Toast your own sesame seeds if you have them, but truthfully the pre-toasted ones are fine and save you another step you don't need.
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