Hoisin sauce contains fermented soybeans aged 6+ months, creating deeper umami than soy sauce alone in these noodles.
Hoisin Garlic Noodles
Dive into a bowl of Hoisin Garlic Noodles, where savory hoisin sauce and aromatic garlic create a mouthwatering symphony of flavors! This quick and easy dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner, bringing together perfectly cooked noodles and a hint of sesame for that extra touch. Get ready to slurp up some seriously delicious goodness!
Prep
10
min
Cook
10
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
The Story
This dish is pure San Francisco Chinatown genius from the 1980s when Cantonese immigrants discovered American maple syrup could replace traditional rock sugar in their hoisin-based sauces—suddenly those thick wheat noodles weren't just getting a glossy Chinese lacquer but a distinctly North American sweetness that made every Italian pasta joint in Little Italy absolutely furious about cultural appropriation.
Regional Twist
In Taiwan's Tainan district, they double the sesame oil and swap those toasted sesame seeds for black sesame paste, creating a nuttier sauce that coats the noodles like velvet.
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 14 oz (397 g) dried wheat or egg noodles
- 6 green onions
- ¼ cup (59 ml) hoisin
- 4 tbsp (59 ml) toasted sesame seeds
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- garlic cloves (to taste)
- maple syrup or honey (to taste)
- salt & pepper (to taste)
- sesame oil (to taste)
- soy sauce (to taste)
- vegetable oil (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Cook the noodles in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and rinse to cool.
- 2
Mix hoisin, soy sauce, sesame oil, and maple syrup in a small bowl.
- 3
Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet, add the garlic and white parts of the scallions, and cook until fragrant.
- 4
Quickly pour in the sauce and add the noodles, tossing to coat.
- 5
Let the noodles cook undisturbed until the bottom turns crispy, about 2 to 3 minutes, then season to taste.
- 6
Serve topped with toasted sesame seeds and the green parts of the scallions.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Rinse cooked noodles with cold water immediately after draining to remove excess starch and stop the cooking process, preventing them from becoming mushy when stir-fried.techniqueCold water rinse
- ✓Heat your skillet to medium-high (around 375°F) before adding oil so the garlic sizzles immediately upon contact, releasing maximum aromatic compounds without burning.equipment375°F
- ✓Let the sauced noodles sit undisturbed for exactly 2-3 minutes to develop a crispy bottom layer through the Maillard reaction, which requires sustained heat contact above 280°F.timing2-3 minutes
- ✓Add the sauce mixture in one quick pour rather than drizzling to create immediate steam that helps distribute flavors evenly and prevents the hoisin from scorching.technique
- ✓Toast sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes until golden brown to activate their oils and intensify nutty flavor compounds by 300-400%.ingredient300-400% flavor increase
Share this recipe
Prep
10
min
Cook
10
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
Hoisin sauce contains fermented soybeans aged 6+ months, creating deeper umami than soy sauce alone in these noodles.
Hoisin Garlic Noodles
Dive into a bowl of Hoisin Garlic Noodles, where savory hoisin sauce and aromatic garlic create a mouthwatering symphony of flavors! This quick and easy dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner, bringing together perfectly cooked noodles and a hint of sesame for that extra touch. Get ready to slurp up some seriously delicious goodness!
The Story
This dish is pure San Francisco Chinatown genius from the 1980s when Cantonese immigrants discovered American maple syrup could replace traditional rock sugar in their hoisin-based sauces—suddenly those thick wheat noodles weren't just getting a glossy Chinese lacquer but a distinctly North American sweetness that made every Italian pasta joint in Little Italy absolutely furious about cultural appropriation.
Regional Twist
In Taiwan's Tainan district, they double the sesame oil and swap those toasted sesame seeds for black sesame paste, creating a nuttier sauce that coats the noodles like velvet.
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 14 oz (397 g) dried wheat or egg noodles
- 6 green onions
- ¼ cup (59 ml) hoisin
- 4 tbsp (59 ml) toasted sesame seeds
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- garlic cloves (to taste)
- maple syrup or honey (to taste)
- salt & pepper (to taste)
- sesame oil (to taste)
- soy sauce (to taste)
- vegetable oil (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Cook the noodles in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and rinse to cool.
- 2
Mix hoisin, soy sauce, sesame oil, and maple syrup in a small bowl.
- 3
Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet, add the garlic and white parts of the scallions, and cook until fragrant.
- 4
Quickly pour in the sauce and add the noodles, tossing to coat.
- 5
Let the noodles cook undisturbed until the bottom turns crispy, about 2 to 3 minutes, then season to taste.
- 6
Serve topped with toasted sesame seeds and the green parts of the scallions.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Rinse cooked noodles with cold water immediately after draining to remove excess starch and stop the cooking process, preventing them from becoming mushy when stir-fried.techniqueCold water rinse
- ✓Heat your skillet to medium-high (around 375°F) before adding oil so the garlic sizzles immediately upon contact, releasing maximum aromatic compounds without burning.equipment375°F
- ✓Let the sauced noodles sit undisturbed for exactly 2-3 minutes to develop a crispy bottom layer through the Maillard reaction, which requires sustained heat contact above 280°F.timing2-3 minutes
- ✓Add the sauce mixture in one quick pour rather than drizzling to create immediate steam that helps distribute flavors evenly and prevents the hoisin from scorching.technique
- ✓Toast sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes until golden brown to activate their oils and intensify nutty flavor compounds by 300-400%.ingredient300-400% flavor increase