Literally our go-to recipe when we don't know what to eat, want something quick, and/or have a bunch of veggies to get through. Peanut noodles are a delicious savory dish that's quick to prepare and easy to modify.
What Noodles To Use?
Honestly, we've used them all - rice noodles, spaghetti, udon, ramen, whatever you already have in the pantry should be fine. When I was younger I would use the ramen from those cheap instant ramen packets. Just don't use the packet seasoning it comes with. Those noodles cook real quick too, so you'll have a meal ready in no time!
Peanut Sauce Ingredients
- Peanut Butter is the star of this recipe, we typically use creamy but crunchy works well too.
- Soy Sauce brings out the umami flavors in this dish.
- Rice Vinegar has a mild sweet and tangy flavor, commonly used in sushi rice.
- Sesame Oil when made from toasted sesame (the kind we used) is distinctly nutty.
- Sriracha gives this a perfect kick- but feel free to omit if you don't like heat.
- Maple Syrup balances the savory, salty, and spicy flavors.
- Onion Powder & Garlic Powder are a solid combination for some lazy quick flavor.
How to Get the Right Consistency
Not all nut butters are created equal, some are thicker than others. Cooking involves all your senses, so put them to work while making this sauce. If you're happy with the flavor but the consistency is too thick, you can thin it out with the water you cooked the pasta in. We just scoop some out with a measuring cup. When mixing with the peanut sauce use a spoonful at a time to get the right consistency- go light until you get it right.
Toppings
This is totally up to you. I can't emphasize enough how versatile you can be with this dish. Below are toppings we typically enjoy with this dish.
- Sautéed veggies
- Tofu
- Green Onion
- Sesame Seeds
- Crushed Roasted Peanuts
- Chili Oil
How To Store
This is best eaten right after preparing. But you can make the sauce ahead of time and store it in the fridge. It makes for a great meal prep! However, if you do have leftover cooked peanut noodles, store them in the fridge. They will be much dryer but just add a little splash of water before reheating.
Ingredients
Peanut Sauce
- ⅓ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup soy sauce preferably low sodium
- 1-2 tbsp sriracha if you want a little spice
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- ½ tbsp maple syrup
- ½ tbsp garlic powder
- ½ tbsp onion powder
- 2-3 tbsp water or pasta water for thinning the sauce
Noodle
- ½ lbs noodles of choice
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to boil. Cook noodles according to package directions.
- While the noodles cook, prepare the sauce.
- Mix all sauce ingredients together. Add pasta water last and adjust according to consistency.
