Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

When the weather gets hot and I don’t feel like cooking anything heavy, I often make this sesame sauce glass noodle sheet salad.

The noodles are silky, chewy, and refreshing, while the rich sesame dressing coats every piece with deep, nutty flavor. It’s quick, satisfying, and perfect for a light summer meal.

This dish uses sweet potato glass noodle sheets, which have a smooth and pleasantly chewy texture. Paired with garlic, sesame paste, and a slightly tangy soy-vinegar dressing, it becomes an incredibly refreshing cold dish.

If you enjoy dishes made with this type of noodle sheet, you might also love Cucumber & Glass Noodle Salad with Youtiao, which uses the same noodles with a crunchy cucumber twist.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Ready in about 10 minutes – quick and easy summer dish
Rich sesame flavor – creamy, nutty, and aromatic
Refreshing texture – smooth, chewy, and cooling
Versatile – works as a side dish or light main meal
Customizable – easy to add vegetables or extra toppings

Ingredients

Main Ingredient

200g sweet potato glass noodle sheets

Aromatics

10g cilantro, chopped
15g garlic, minced
10g bird’s eye chili, sliced (optional)
5g white sesame seeds

Sauce

30ml cooking oil
3g salt
2g MSG (optional)
30ml light soy sauce
5g sugar
22ml Chinese black vinegar
15ml oyster sauce
120g sesame paste

Additional

warm water (for soaking the noodles)
cold boiled water or purified water (for rinsing)

Instructions

1. Soak the Glass Noodle Sheets

Place the sweet potato glass noodle sheets in a large bowl and cover them with warm water. Let them soak for about 10 minutes until fully softened and flexible.

Rinse briefly with clean water and drain.

2. Prepare the Aromatics

Finely mince the garlic, chop the cilantro, and slice the chili if using.

Place the garlic, chili, cilantro, and sesame seeds in a large mixing bowl.

3. Make the Sesame Sauce

Heat the cooking oil until it reaches medium heat and just begins to smoke slightly.

Carefully pour the hot oil over the aromatics to release their fragrance. Then add salt, MSG, soy sauce, sugar, black vinegar, oyster sauce, and sesame paste.

Stir continuously in one direction until the sesame paste becomes smooth and fully blended into a creamy dressing.

4. Cook the Noodle Sheets

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the soaked noodle sheets and gently separate them with chopsticks.

Cook for 3–4 minutes until tender and pleasantly chewy.

Immediately transfer the noodles to a bowl of cold boiled water and rinse twice to cool them quickly.

Drain thoroughly to remove excess water.

5. Toss and Serve

Place the drained noodle sheets in a large bowl. Pour the sesame sauce over the noodles.

Toss well so every piece of noodle sheet is evenly coated with the sauce. Garnish with extra cilantro if desired and serve immediately.

Notes

Soaking tip: Always soak the noodle sheets in warm water. Hot water can make them too soft, while cold water takes longer to soften them.
Cooking time: Do not boil longer than 3–4 minutes, or the noodles may become sticky and lose their chewiness.
Cooling step: Rinsing in cold water keeps the noodles springy and prevents sticking.
Sesame sauce tip: The hot oil helps loosen the sesame paste so it mixes smoothly without adding extra water.
Flavor balance: Sugar enhances the flavor while vinegar cuts the richness of sesame paste. Adjust according to taste.
Optional additions: Julienned cucumber, carrot, or blanched bean sprouts add freshness and color. Crushed roasted peanuts can add a nice crunch.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are glass noodle sheets?
They are translucent sheets made from sweet potato starch. Once cooked, they become smooth, slightly chewy, and perfect for cold salads.

Can I make this dish less spicy?
Yes. Simply omit the bird’s eye chili. The sesame dressing will still be rich and flavorful.

Why rinse the noodles in cold water?
Cooling stops the cooking process and helps maintain the noodles’ chewy texture while preventing them from sticking together.

Can I prepare this dish ahead of time?
It’s best eaten fresh. If needed, you can prepare the sesame sauce ahead and mix everything just before serving.

Are there other dishes using the same noodle sheets?
Yes! You can try Cucumber & Glass Noodle Salad with Youtiao, which combines the same sweet potato noodle sheets with crisp cucumber and crunchy fried dough sticks for a refreshing contrast of textures.

Sesame Sauce Glass Noodle Sheet Salad (Liangban Fenpi)

Print Recipe Pin Recipe