Spicy Peanut Noodles
Major kudos to chili crisp — the real MVP of this flavorful recipe. Chili crisp is a wonderful ingredient to utilize in a quick sauce because it’s packed full of garlicky, spicy, umami flavor all in one. Notice — this is intentionally a recipe for 1 person. It multiplies beautifully if you want to serve it for your friends or family, but this is truly the perfect weekday lunch or dinner for one.
What goes with spicy peanut noodles? The perfect complement to spicy peanut noodles is something that is fresh and bright. This smashed cucumber salad recipe pairs beautifully with the richness and savoriness of the peanut noodles.
What can you substitute for broccoli in spicy peanut noodles? Almost any vegetable would substitute perfectly in this recipe, but here are a few favorites:
Sliced red bell pepper
Shaved carrots
Snow peas
Bok choy
Can peanut sauce be frozen? Yes, you can prepare batches of spicy peanut sauce and freeze in individual portions to make for an even easier dinner or lunch. When ready to defrost, simply add the frozen sauce right into the pan for a few moments before adding noodles.
How else can you use peanut sauce? This peanut sauce can be altered to create a wonderful dipping sauce for spring rolls, lettuce wraps, or vegetables. To do this, simply add 2 tablespoons of water to thin out the sauce slightly and mellow the flavors a bit. The sauce in this recipe is concentrated, so it needs this addition of water if it’s not going to be cooked into a pasta with pasta water.
Can you add meat to spicy peanut noodles? Yes, many different proteins would do well as an addition to this recipe. Here are a few recommendations:
Shrimp
Chicken thighs
Ground turkey, chicken, or pork
Can I substitute any nuts for the peanuts in peanut sauce? Yes, this recipe works wonderfully with any substitution of nuts and nut butters. My favorite nut substitution for spicy peanut noodles would be almonds.
Why is my peanut sauce too thick? The key to solving this problem is adding more liquid in the form of broth, pasta water, or just regular water. This recipe guides you to finish the noodles in the sauce and add ¼ cup of pasta water along with the sauce. If the sauce still looks too thick after doing this, add more pasta water gradually until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
How to make spicy peanut noodles:
Spicy Peanut Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 1/5 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp chili crisp
- 1 tsp honey
- Juice of 1 lime (about 2 tbsp)
- 1 small head of broccoli, cut into florets
- 2 tbsp of peanuts, chopped
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish
- 2.5 oz thick, long pasta such as pappardelle, udon, egg noodles, or lo mein
Instructions
- Fill a pot with water and put over high heat to come to a boil.
- Mix together all of the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl and set aside.
- In a medium-sized skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and sauté the broccoli florets until fully cooked and tender. Remove the broccoli and set aside.
- Meanwhile, salt the boiling water and add the noodles to the pot. Cook the pasta until just slightly al dente and almost cooked fully.
- Add the sauce to the pan over low heat and warm through until a thick, luscious sauce develops and is warmed through sufficiently.
- Transfer the noodles directly into the pan with the sauce and add ¼ cup of the water the noodles were cooked in. This starchy pasta water will help thin out the sauce while also seasoning it.
- Add the broccoli back to the pan and toss all components together until the sauce coats the pasta and vegetables and the pasta water is absorbed.
- Top with peanuts and cilantro. Enjoy!
