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Spicy Peanut Noodles | Healthy Nibbles by Lisa Lin

July 30, 2022

SPICY PEANUT NOODLES RECIPE INSPIRATION

When it’s summer time in Sacramento, I don’t need to spend a lot time cooking within the warmth. That’s why I like to arrange chilly noodle dishes for a straightforward meal.

I’ve been making an attempt to develop one other spicy peanut noodle recipe for some time, nevertheless it was difficult creating a sauce recipe that wasn’t overpowering with peanut taste. As a lot as I like peanut butter (and I do imply LOVE), I don’t need to really feel like I’m consuming a jar of peanut butter whereas slurping my noodles. (You too can try my peanut noodle recipe that’s flavored with teriyaki sauce and chili oil here).

Not too long ago, I cooked a couple of batches of my spicy eggplant stir fry, which makes use of doubanjiang (豆瓣醬) a salty, fermented broad bean chili sauce. I questioned if the flavors of the sauce would praise peanut butter, and I used to be pleasantly stunned! The spicy and salted flavors of the doubanjiang cuts by way of the sturdy nutty aroma of peanut butter.

These spicy peanut noodles are simple to arrange and nice to get pleasure from on a heat day!

INGREDIENTS FOR SPICY PEANUT NOODLES

PEANUT SAUCE

Garlic & Rice Vinegar: I’ve grated the garlic with a microplane zester in order that it blends higher within the sauce. Each time I intend to serve a dish with uncooked garlic, I prefer to let it soak in vinegar for 10 minutes or so to neutralize among the uncooked chew of the garlic. In case you are averse to the flavour of uncooked garlic, you’ll be able to mince 2 to three cloves of garlic and sauté the garlic in some oil. Alternatively, use 1 teaspoon of granulated garlic or garlic powder as an alternative.

I’m utilizing rice vinegar on this sauce as a result of I just like the brightness and relative mildness of the vinegar. I attempted utilizing Zhenjiang (Chinkiang) vinegar and I discovered it too overpowering on this noodle sauce.

Rice Vinegar Substitution: Use apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar

Peanut Butter: I’m utilizing creamy peanut butter right here in order that the sauce might be smoother. You too can use chunky peanut butter when you don’t thoughts bits of peanuts in your noodles.

Peanut Butter Substitution: You should utilize almond butter, cashew butter, sesame paste (or tahini), or sunflower seed butter.

Doubanjiang (豆瓣醬/豆瓣酱): Originating from Sichuan, doubanjiang is a fermented broad bean (or fava bean) chili sauce. It’s a relatively salty and spicy chili sauce. The doubanjiang I used on this recipe was truly produced in Taiwan (doubanjiang is produced in lots of locations outdoors of Sichuan).

You could find doubanjiang in Asian grocery shops, particularly ones that promote Chinese language substances. In case you don’t have easy accessibility to an Asian grocer, yow will discover it on Amazon (affiliate hyperlink) or Asian on-line shops like Yamibuy or Weee!

Doubanjiang Substitutions

You possibly can substitute doubanjiang with black bean and garlic sauce (a southern-Chinese language model sauce). Lee Kum Kee’s model is on the market on Amazon (affiliate hyperlink). As a result of black bean and garlic sauce isn’t spicy, it’s possible you’ll contemplate including slightly extra chili flakes if you need the spice.
Moreover black bean and garlic sauce, gochujang (fermented Korean chili paste) can work additionally for this spicy noodles recipe. Nonetheless, it’s possible you’ll want so as to add salt or cut back the quantity of sugar used within the sauce as a result of gochujang is nice.

Extra Recipes Utilizing Doubanjiang:

Soy Sauce: I like to make use of soy sauce so as to add savory taste, however be happy to make use of tamari when you’re gluten free.

Brown Sugar: I’m including brown sugar to the sauce to steadiness the sturdy salty flavors of the doubanjiang and soy sauce, in addition to the tang of the rice vinegar. Be at liberty to make use of another sugar, maple syrup, or honey when you’re not vegan.

Chili Flakes: As somebody who has no less than 5 completely different sorts of chili flakes within the pantry, I do know that completely different chilies ship various ranges of spice. Throughout my recipe improvement, I used Diaspora Co.’s Guntur Sannam Chilli, which has a medium-low degree of spice. That’s why I used 1/2 teaspoon of the chili flakes within the sauce and extra to garnish the noodles on the finish. In case you can’t tolerate an excessive amount of spice, I’d begin with 1/8 or 1/4 teaspoon of chili flakes and add extra as wanted.

Floor Coriander: I added 3/4 teaspoon of floor coriander to the sauce, which added some floral, nearly citrusy notes to the sauce. I grind these coriander seeds from Diaspora Co. utilizing a spice grinder. The flavour is refined, so be happy to depart it out.

NOODLES

You should utilize any noodles for this recipe. For my recipe testing, I used dried hand-cut wheat noodles that I purchased at Ranch 99, however any Asian-style wheat noodles work. As a matter of reality, soba works very properly with this recipe, as it’ll add earthy flavors to the dish. In case you are gluten free, think about using rice noodles or mung bean noodles.

HOW TO MAKE SPICY PEANUT NOODLES

MAKE SAUCE

Add the grated garlic and rice vinegar to a bowl and stir collectively. Then, let that sit for 10 minutes. Add the remainder of the sauce substances to the bowl and blend for 1 to 2 minutes. The sauce will look grainy in the beginning however ought to clean out by the top of the blending. When you’re achieved mixing, the sauce could seem very runny. Simply let it sit whilst you prepare dinner the noodles. The sauce will thicken as soon as the noodles are cooked. You too can put together the sauce as much as 3 days forward.

COOK NOODLES

Deliver a pot of water to boil. Then, prepare dinner the noodles in line with package deal instructions. Drain the noodles and rinse underneath chilly water. This stops the noodles from cooking additional and removes some extra starch from the noodles, which can make the noodles very mushy when mixed with the peanut sauce. Belief me, the noodles get fairly gummy when you don’t quiet down the noodles earlier than tossing with the sauce.

Submerging cooked noodles in an ice bath — Submerging noodles in an ice tub

I truly prefer to shock these noodles in ice water for 1 to 2 minutes. The ice tub chills the noodles extra totally, in comparison with merely working the noodles underneath chilly water. As you’ll be able to think about, the noodles will flip chilly when you shock them in ice water. In order for you the noodles to be nearer to room temperature, rinse the noodles underneath chilly water.

TOSS EVERYTHING TOGETHER

Add the cooked noodles to a big mixing bowl. Pour the sauce over the noodles and toss to coat the noodles with the sauce. Then add chopped basil and toss with the noodles once more.

Serve the noodles in bowls and garnish with sesame seeds, chili flakes, and sliced scallions, when you like.

MAKING A NOODLE SALAD

You possibly can at all times add greens to those spicy peanut noodles to make a salad. Any mixture of those greens, thinly sliced and julienned, could be scrumptious: bell peppers, carrots, cucumber, jicama, or cabbage (purple or inexperienced). Relying on how a lot greens you add to the salad, it’s possible you’ll must make just a bit bit extra of the noodle sauce to verify the salad is properly seasoned.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH SPICY PEANUT NOODLES

VEGETABLES

PLANT-BASED PROTEIN

PROTEIN

Servings: 3