Creamy Rice Noodle Stir Fry

This Creamy Rice Noodle Stir Fry is an easy way to get your veggies in! Sautéed broccoli, mushrooms, and asparagus tossed in a creamy tahini stir fry sauce, then served over chewy rice noodles for a comforting, healthy meal. Have it ready to eat in just over 30 minutes! 

Tahini isn’t an ingredient you’d commonly associate with stir fries, but it’s very similar to making Peanut Noodle Salad or Crunchy Thai Peanut Salad which I think we can all agree is amazing! And once you’re hooked on the nutty, mild flavor, make sure to try this 20-Minute Creamy Tahini Pasta and this Easy Miso Tahini Dressing for all of your favorite salads. 

Why You’ll Love This Stir Fry

• Perfect for family dinner! Kids and adults will love this creamy twist on stir fry. 
• Homemade easy stir fry sauce! While this creamy, savory sauce isn’t your traditional stir fry sauce, it’s absolutely delicious, easy to make, and can be meal-prepped in advance.
• Simple vegetable stir fry. We have tons of stir fry ideas on the blog that are made with tofu (i.e. Veggie Brown Rice Stir Fry, Teriyaki Tofu Stir Fry, Spice Sesame Tofu Stir-Fry), but we don’t have many veggie-only stir fries! This stir fry is packed with several cups of veggies and is so good for you.
• Easy to customize. Use your favorite noodles, make it spicy, or swap in the produce you currently have in your fridge! 
• Uses less dishes. ​The sauce is mixed together and cooked in the same pan as the veggies, saving you on dishes! 

The Ingredients

​For the Stir Fry

• Rice Noodles:  Use any rice noodles or flat noodles of choice. I typically use flat rice noodles like pad Thai rice noodles. 
• Aromatics: A blend of sautéed onion, garlic, and ginger creates a flavorful base for the stir fry. I used yellow onion, but white onion will work, too. 
• Mushrooms: Either cremini or button mushrooms are my favorite, but any brown mushrooms of choice can be used. 
• Broccoli: I used a small head of broccoli chopped into bite-sized florets (about 4 cups). If you have a large head of cauliflower, reserve half for another recipe such as Broccoli and Onion Pakora.
• Asparagus: Use about 2-3 cups of asparagus chopped into 1″ pieces (discard the woody stems!). 

Tahini Stir Fry Sauce

• Tahini: Creamy tahini is relatively budget friendly (especially when purchased in larger sizes!), but it’s worth it to splurge for a more expensive tahini when possible. Cheaper versions tend to be on the bitter side and can be off-putting, especially for new vegans. If a good quality tahini is out of budget for you, use creamy peanut butter instead (Or, try my Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce instead!). 
• Rice vinegar: Adds a tangy acidity that brightens up this creamy tahini sauce. If needed, swap the rice vinegar with apple cider vinegar. 
• Agave syrup: Any natural liquid sweetener will do, but I love the neutral flavor of agave syrup. 
• Soy sauce: If gluten-free, use tamari. Coconut aminos will also work, but it is noticeably sweeter tasting and salt to taste will likely be necessary to balance the flavor. 
• Chopped cilantro: Optional, but adds a nice freshness that lightens up the creamy sauce.

Looking to cut your grocery bill? Chop the mushrooms, broccoli, and asparagus yourself! Many grocery stores will sell pre-chopped produce, but this produce is always more expensive than purchasing the whole fruit or vegetable and cutting it yourself at home. Learning the Basics of Cutting Produce is relatively quick and simple, especially when you’ve got a good chef’s knife!

Possible Add-ins and Variations

• Rice noodles substitute: We love rice noodles because they’re satiating, naturally gluten-free, and easy to find. If preferred, swap in your favorite stir fry noodles such as glass noodles, rice vermicelli noodles, or udon noodles. You can even use Fresh Wide Rice Noodles in this noodle dish!
• Use your favorite veggies: Any veggies of choice will do. Try bell peppers, snow peas, bok choy, mung bean sprouts, or green beans. 
• Add protein: ​Chickpeas, tempeh, or tofu would all be delicious in this stir fry. 
• Make it spicy: Add your favorite diced chilies, chili sauce, red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper. 

How to Make Rice Noodle Stir Fry

• 1) Bring a pot of water to a boil, then cook the rice noodles as directed. Set aside while you prepare the veggies. 

• 2) In a large skillet over medium heat, warm a tablespoon of oil (or water if oil-free). Add in the onion, garlic, and fresh ginger and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent the garlic and ginger from burning. Add the mushrooms and cook for another 3 minutes or so, until beginning to soften. Add the broccoli florets and asparagus and cover, allowing the veggies to steam for about 1 minute. 

• 3) Directly into the skillet with the veggies, add in the tahini, vinegar, agave, and soy sauce. Stir to coat the veggies, then slowly add water until a creamy sauce consistency is achieved. Season with salt, hot sauce, cayenne, or black pepper to taste, if desired. Finally, add in the chopped cilantro, if using. 

• 4) Serve over a bed of tender, cooked noodles and toss to coat. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, green onions, red pepper flakes, etc., if desired and enjoy! 

Recipe FAQs

Top Recipe Tips 

• Don’t overcook the noodles! Rice noodles that have been boiled too long will be very mushy and lacking in texture. Be careful to drain the rice noodles as soon as they are ready and rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking, as needed. If you’d like to toss the noodles in the pan with the veggies and tahini cream sauce, undercook them by 1-2 minutes or until al dente. They will finish cooking directly in the pan. 
• Have your vegetables and creamy tahini sauce chopped and measured in advance. ​This recipe is quick cooking and ingredients are added to the pan at a rather fast pace. Be prepared before starting to make this as easy and stress-free as possible! 
• Use a nonstick skillet. This is especially important if you are choosing to make this recipe oil-free. This will ensure nothing sticks and your tahini sauce does not burn to the bottom of the skillet. 

Serving Suggestions 

As is, this rice noodle stir fry is quite filling and complete with fiber, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and some protein. To make it more filling, pair it with a simple baked protein or tempeh. Or, enjoy with a vegan side such as Tofu Vegetable Crispy Wontons, an Easy Edamame Salad, or Tofu Spring Rolls!

Storage Instructions

Once combined, this rice noodle stir fry is best served fresh. If you are planning to make this stir fry as a meal prep, we’d recommend storing the rice noodles, stir fry vegetables and sauce separately and combine right before enjoying. Or, if possible, store the stir fry vegetables and tahini sauce in separate containers and cook the rice noodles fresh! 

More Stir Fry Noodle Recipes 

• Pancit Bihon (Filipino Inspired Rice Noodles)
• ​Garlic Sesame Soba Noodles
• Easy Tempeh Stir-Fry
• Quick Teriyaki Tofu Stir Fry
• Easy Zucchini Stir Fry

Photos by Alfonso Revilla