Name: Grilled Chicken with Sesame Noodles
Yield: Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients: 3 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger; 1/2 cup soy sauce; 3 tablespoons rice vinegar; 2 teaspoons hot sauce; 3 tablespoons light brown sugar; 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil; 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds); 1/4 cup peanut butter; Table salt; 1 pound Chinese egg noodles; 6 scallions, sliced thin

Why This Recipe Works

We wanted perfectly dressed noodles, tender chicken, and a flavorful sauce. We rinsed the cooked noodles to eliminate much of the starch that can turn the pasta gummy, then tossed the noodles with the sauce directly after rinsing to keep them moist. To complete our sesame noodles, we grilled chicken over high heat, which let it cook through before drying out.

Before You Begin

If you prefer, you can substitute 12 ounces of dried spaghetti for the Chinese egg noodles.

Instructions

Bring 4 quarts water to boil over high heat. Meanwhile, whisk garlic, ginger, soy sauce, vinegar, hot sauce, brown sugar, and oil in small bowl. Toss chicken with 3 tablespoons garlic mixture in bowl. Puree remaining garlic mixture and peanut butter in blender until smooth.

Add 1 tablespoon salt and noodles to boiling water and cook until al dente. Drain well, rinse under cold running water until cool, and drain again. Toss noodles, peanut sauce, and scallions in large bowl. Adjust seasonings.

Grill chicken breasts over high heat until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Slice chicken and serve with noodles.