On the most hectic days of our hectic lives, it’s best to go simple. For these sesame noodles, you can use any noodle in a pinch, and the nutty dressing comes together in under 10 minutes. You’ll spend more time slicing some refreshing cucumbers than you will actually cooking. The only step that requires heating is boiling your noodles—the rest is just tossing everything together in a large bowl and slurping to your heart’s content.

For best results, I love using dried wheat noodles—often labeled “oriental noodles” and found in the dry goods shelves of your local Asian stores—because they tend to cling to the silky sauce perfectly. Reserve a cup of your noodle cooking water for your sauce as the starches in that water will be key in creating a smooth, slightly tacky dressing for your noodles. If you can’t find Chinese sesame paste, you can substitute tahini—just note that the flavor will be a little less toasty and slightly more floral.