Sesame Noodles With Shredded Chicken

Adapted from America's Test Kitchen _Cooking For Two 2009_. The recipe in the book does not make enough sauce; I have doubled the sauce ingredients here. If it's still not enough next time, I might increase them further. Commercial chunky peanut butter is better than natural or old-fashioned, because it has a bit more sweetness. This can be served cold or hot.

• Ready In: 27 mins
• Serves: 2-3

Ingredients

• Sauce

• 5  tablespoons soy sauce
• 4  tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted, divided
• 1⁄4 cup chunky peanut butter
• 2  tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2  tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2  tablespoons  toasted sesame oil, divided
• 1  tablespoon  grated fresh ginger
• 2  garlic cloves, minced finely
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  hot sauce (sriracha or other Asian style hot sauce preferred)
• 4 -6  tablespoons hot water

• Dish

• 8  ounces  cooked chicken, shredded
• 1⁄3 lb spaghetti or 1⁄2 lb  fresh Chinese noodles
• 1⁄2 red bell pepper, cored and sliced into 1/4-inch-wide strips
• 1⁄2 cucumber, peeled, seeded and sliced across 1/4-inch wide
• 1  carrot, peeled and grated on the large holes of a box grater
• 2  scallions, sliced thinly on the bias
• 1  tablespoon  chopped cilantro leaf (optional)

Directions

1. In a blender, combine soy sauce, 3 tbsp sesame seeds, peanut butter, rice vinegar, brown sugar, 1 tbsp sesame oil, ginger, garlic and hot sauce. Process until smooth. With the blades still running, add hot water, 1 tbsp at a time, until the sauce has the thickness of heavy cream.
2. If serving hot, heat the chicken without overcooking it (1 minute or so in the microwave on high should do).
3. Cook the pasta in 4 qts of salted water until tender. Reserve 1/2 c of pasta water before draining. If serving cold, rinse under cold running water until cold.
4. Transfer noodles to a large bowl and toss with remaining 1 tbsp sesame oil. Add sauce, chicken, bell pepper, cucumber, carrot, scallions and cilantro if using. Toss well to combine. If the sauce looks too thick, drizzle with reserved pasta water and toss again; repeat until desired consistency is achieved. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tbsp sesame seeds and serve.