Grilled Shrimp Asian Noodle Bowl (Print Version)

Smoky grilled shrimp over sesame noodles with fresh vegetables and creamy avocado, topped with crunchy peanuts.

# Components:

→ Shrimp Marinade

01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
03 - 1 tbsp sesame oil
04 - 1 tbsp lime juice
05 - 1 tsp honey
06 - 1 clove garlic, minced
07 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Noodles

08 - 8 oz egg noodles
09 - 1 tbsp sesame oil
10 - 1 tbsp soy sauce
11 - 2 tsp rice vinegar
12 - 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

→ Toppings

13 - 1 medium cucumber, julienned
14 - 1 cup bean sprouts, rinsed
15 - 1 large avocado, sliced
16 - 1/3 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, roughly chopped
17 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
18 - Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
19 - Lime wedges for serving

# Directions:

01 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, lime juice, honey, minced garlic, and black pepper. Add shrimp and toss to coat evenly. Marinate for 10 to 15 minutes at room temperature.
02 - Cook egg noodles according to package directions in a medium saucepan. Drain and rinse under cold running water until completely cooled. Toss with sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and toasted sesame seeds. Set aside.
03 - Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Thread marinated shrimp onto skewers if desired. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side until pink in color and lightly charred. Remove from heat immediately.
04 - Divide dressed noodles evenly among four serving bowls. Top each bowl with grilled shrimp, julienned cucumber, bean sprouts, avocado slices, and chopped peanuts. Sprinkle with sliced scallions and fresh cilantro leaves.
05 - Present bowls immediately with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the top according to personal preference.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in 30 minutes, which means you can have a restaurant-quality bowl on the table before your takeout app finishes loading.
  • The contrast between warm smoky shrimp and cold sesame noodles hits every texture and temperature you crave in one bite.
  • You can prep the toppings ahead and let everyone build their own bowl, which makes weeknight dinners feel a little more special without extra work.
02 -
  • Rinse the noodles under cold water immediately after draining or they'll clump together into one giant noodle cake that refuses to separate.
  • Don't skip the marinade time for the shrimp, those 10 minutes let the garlic and sesame oil work their way in so every bite has flavor, not just the outside.
  • If you're using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 20 minutes first or they'll catch fire on the grill and you'll spend the whole time panicking instead of cooking.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 2 minutes before adding them to the noodles, it unlocks a deeper nutty flavor that makes everything taste more intentional.
  • Use kitchen shears to cut the scallions and cilantro right over the bowls, it's faster than a knife and you'll feel like a chef without the extra cutting board to wash.
  • If your shrimp are different sizes, thread the smaller ones together and the larger ones separately so they all finish cooking at the same time.
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