Want dinner in a hurry? This Asian Garlic Noodles recipe comes together in minutes yet packs incredible umami flavors. It features perfectly chewy pasta tossed in an irresistible savory, buttery garlic sauce you’d want to put on everything! It's the perfect side to your favorite protein!
Ingredient notes
- I like to use spaghetti, but you can use other pasta or noodles such as fettuccine, ramen, or dried or fresh Chinese egg noodles.
- Butter adds creaminess while the oil keeps the butter's milk solids from burning quickly.
- Garlic is the flavor base of the dish, and the more the merrier!
- The sauce is a sweet-and-savory mix of fish sauce, oyster sauce, light soy sauce, pepper, brown sugar, and a splash of water.
- Parmesan cheese adds saltiness and creaminess.
- Green onions or fresh parsley bring a touch of color and freshness.
How to make Asian garlic noodles
- Cook the noodles about a minute or two shy of the package's directions, as they will continue to cook when heated in the pan with the sauce.
- Combine the fish sauce, oyster sauce, light soy sauce, water, brown sugar, and pepper to make the sauce. Feel free to adjust amounts to suit your taste.
Cooking tip
You can replace the water with pasta to make it more silky.
- Add the minced garlic while the butter and oil are still warm, not hot, to give it more time to infuse its flavor. Brown it low and slow so it doesn't burn and turn bitter.
- Save some of the pasta water and add it in one tablespoon increments to add moisture if the noodles look dry or to dilute the sauce if it's too strong. The starch in the water will also help thicken the sauce.
How to serve and store
- These garlic noodles are flavorful on their own. You can serve them as a side dish alongside halabos na hipon or BBQ skewers. They also make a tasty base for a complete meal. Top the noodles with lean protein such as grilled chicken or crispy tofu, and toss in some steamed vegetables like broccoli, carrots, or bok choy.
- They're best enjoyed freshly cooked, so I suggest making just enough for a meal. If you do have leftovers, transfer to a lidded container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a pan with a little splash of water to loosen.
- Pasta doesn't freeze well, as the freezing and thawing alters texture.
Want dinner in a hurry? This Asian Garlic Noodles recipe comes together in minutes yet packs incredible umami flavors. It features perfectly chewy pasta tossed in an irresistible savory, buttery garlic sauce you’d want to put on everything! It's the perfect side to your favorite protein!
Course: Side Dish
servings
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti noodles
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 head garlic
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon water
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- Parmesan cheese
- green onions chopped
Instructions
- Boil water in a casserole and cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain well. Reserve some of the pasta water.
- Heat the oil and butter in a large pan until warm. Add the garlic and cook until golden and aromatic, stirring regularly for even cooking.
- While browning the garlic, prepare the sauce by combining fish sauce, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, pepper, brown sugar, and one tablespoon of water in a bowl. Whisk until blended.
- When the garlic is golden brown, pour in the sauce mixture and bring to a simmer. Add the cooked pasta and toss to coat evenly with the sauce. Add a splash of pasta water, one tablespoon at a time, if the noodles look dry.
- Add parmesan cheese and stir to combine. Sprinkle green onions and toss. Serve immediately.
Notes
Save some of the pasta water and add it in one tablespoon increments to add moisture if the noodles look dry or to dilute the sauce if it's too strong. The starch in the water will also help thicken the sauce.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 378kcal, Carbohydrates: 50g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 31mg, Sodium: 1300mg, Potassium: 184mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 357IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 29mg, Iron: 1mg
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
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