15-Minute Asian Noodle Bowl (Printable Version)

Speedy Asian noodle bowl with grilled shrimp, fresh vegetables, and flavorful sesame dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 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 handful fresh cilantro, chopped
19 - 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
20 - Lime wedges, to serve

# How To Make:

01 - In a bowl, combine shrimp with soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, garlic, ginger, and chili flakes. Toss to coat and set aside to marinate while preparing the noodles.
02 - Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, sriracha, and toasted sesame seeds until well combined.
04 - Add the cooked noodles to the sauce mixture and toss thoroughly to coat all noodles evenly with the dressing.
05 - Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Grill the marinated shrimp for 1 to 2 minutes per side until pink and cooked through.
06 - Divide the 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 for squeezing.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • It actually tastes restaurant-quality, not like you're eating at your desk while checking emails.
  • Fifteen minutes means you can make this on nights when ordering takeout feels too expensive but cooking feels impossible.
  • The shrimp gets this perfect charred sweetness that makes the whole bowl feel indulgent without any real effort.
02 -
  • Rinsing the noodles in cold water actually prevents them from continuing to cook and getting mushy—this single step changed my entire experience with Asian noodle bowls.
  • Don't skip the marinating step even though it's only five minutes; those flavors need time to sink into the shrimp, and it's the difference between tasting like shrimp-with-sauce versus actually seasoned shrimp.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes if you have time—they'll smell unbelievably nutty compared to pre-toasted ones from a jar.
  • Keep your grill pan or skillet very hot and dry before adding shrimp; moisture is the enemy of that perfect sear, so pat the shrimp dry with paper towels first.
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