Description
Homemade spicy peanut butter noodles deliver complex flavor profiles from Southeast Asian culinary traditions. Creamy sauce combines with chewy noodles for a quick weeknight dinner that satisfies you completely.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (226 g) noodles (spaghetti, ramen, rice noodles, or soba)
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tbsps chopped peanuts
- 2 tbsps soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey (or maple syrup for vegan)
- 1 tsp sriracha (or chili garlic sauce, adjust for spice)
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ tsp grated ginger
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (for extra spice)
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 2–3 tbsps warm water (to thin the sauce)
- 1 green onion, sliced
- ½ cup shredded carrots (for crunch)
- ½ cup cucumber slices (for freshness)
Instructions
- Noodle Preparation: Boil water and cook noodles until perfectly al dente, then drain completely. Toss with sesame oil to prevent sticking, creating a smooth, glossy surface.
- Sauce Crafting: Blend peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and sriracha in a bowl. Mince garlic and grate ginger directly into the mixture, whisking while adding warm water to create a velvety, well-integrated sauce with balanced flavor intensity.
- Combining Elements: Pour the peanut sauce over noodles in a large bowl, using tongs to thoroughly coat each strand, ensuring a harmonious distribution of spicy, nutty flavors throughout the dish.
- Garnish and Texture: Sprinkle a vibrant medley of chopped peanuts, sliced green onions, red pepper flakes, and sesame seeds across the noodles. Add julienned carrots and cucumber to introduce a crisp, refreshing contrast to the creamy noodle base.
- Serving: Present the dish warm for maximum flavor impact, or chill for a cool, refreshing meal perfect for any dining occasion.
Notes
- Prevent Noodle Sticking: Toss freshly drained noodles with sesame oil immediately to stop clumping and maintain individual strand separation.
- Balance Sauce Consistency: Add warm water gradually while whisking to create a smooth, pourable peanut sauce without lumps or separation.
- Control Spice Levels: Adjust sriracha quantity based on personal heat tolerance, starting with small amounts and incrementally increasing for desired kick.
- Enhance Dietary Adaptability: Swap wheat noodles with gluten-free rice or zucchini noodles for celiac or low-carb alternatives without compromising flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg