Stir-fried Noodles in Asian Peanut Sauce
Whip Up a Quick Asian Peanut Noodle Dish
Give your taste buds a treat with this swift and simple Asian peanut noodle recipe. This dish boasts a tantalizing blend of sweet, salty, spicy, and sour flavors, courtesy of soy sauce, fish sauce, peanut butter, jalapeño, and lime juice. You can jazz it up by adding seared and sliced chicken breast for a heartier meal.
Shopping List:- Udon and Soba noodles can be spotted at gourmet grocery stores or Asian markets. If you're struggling to find them, opt for whole-wheat linguine or spaghetti as a substitute.
Up for more health-conscious noodle dishes? Check out our Japchae (Korean stir-fried sweet potato noodles) or Easy Vegan Soba Noodles in Peanut Sauce for a faster version of this recipe.
- Servings: 4-6
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients (15):- Slice 1 medium carrot crosswise- 12 oz dried soba or udon noodles- 3 tsp toasted sesame oil- 18 cilantro sprigs, long stems removed- 2/3 cup natural peanut butter (sugar-free)- 1/4 cup+2 tbsp soy sauce- 3 tbsp+2 tsp finely chopped ginger (3-inch piece)- 2 tbsp+2 tsp fish sauce- 2 tbsp+2 tsp lime juice (2 limes)- 2 tbsp+2 tsp sugar- 2 cloves garlic, smashed- 1 jalapeño, stemmed and chopped- 2 scallions, sliced (white and light green parts only)- 1 red bell pepper, sliced- 1/2 English cucumber, sliced
Instructions:1. Fill a large pot with water and heat it over high heat until boiling. Add the carrots and boil until they're tender-crisp, about 2-3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer carrots to a bowl and set aside.2. Add the noodles to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions. Meanwhile, transfer the cooked carrots to a small bowl and set aside. Place a colander in the sink.3. Once the noodles are done, drain them through the colander and rinse with cold water until cool. Transfer the noodles to a large bowl, drizzle with 1 tsp sesame oil, and toss to coat; set aside.4. In a blender, combine the remaining sesame oil, cilantro, peanut butter, soy sauce, ginger, fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, garlic, and jalapeño. Blend until smooth, adding hot tap water if needed to reach desired consistency. Keep the sauce in the blender.5. Add the reserved carrots, scallions, bell pepper, and cucumber to the noodle bowl, and pour the peanut sauce overtop. Toss until well combined. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Pro Tips:- When searching for alternatives for Udon and Soba noodles, consider opting for thick rice noodles, ramen noodles, Mei Fun or Rice Stick Noodles, glass noodles (cellophane noodles), Somun Noodles, or buckwheat vermicelli.- Choose noodles that can hold onto sauces well, such as thicker Udon alternatives that will soak up more sauce, or thinner Soba alternatives for a lighter coating.- Adjust the peanut sauce consistency based on the noodle's texture to prevent overwhelming it with too much sauce.
This Asian peanut noodle dish can be made more nutritious by adding nuts to the ingredient list. For example, unsalted peanuts could be added for an extra crunch.
If you're unable to find udon noodles at your regular grocery store, noodle alternatives such as soba, whole-wheat linguine, or udon-like thick rice noodles can be found at Asian markets.
When adjusting the sauce for noodles that absorb more sauce, consider lowering the sauce quantity or increasing the noodle-to-sauce ratio to prevent the dish from becoming too saturated. The sauce temperature should also be considered, as a warm sauce can help the flavors infuse better into the noodles.
