Description
This Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles recipe is a quick and flavorful dish featuring brown rice noodles tossed in a creamy, spicy peanut sauce made with garlic, ginger, tamari, sesame oil, and a touch of sweetness and heat from maple syrup and sriracha. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s perfect for a tasty weeknight meal with a delightful balance of savory, spicy, and nutty flavors.
Ingredients
Noodles
- 16 ounces brown rice noodles
Peanut Sauce
- 3 large cloves garlic or 4–5 small, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon oil (such as olive oil)
- 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
- 4 tablespoons low sodium tamari or soy sauce
- 1/3 to 1 cup hot water
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1–2 tablespoons sriracha
- 1–2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional for less spice)
- Optional: 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce
Instructions
- Boil Water: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil, preparing for the noodles to be cooked.
- Cook Noodles: Add the brown rice noodles to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions, usually about 6-8 minutes, until tender but firm. Drain and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: Finely mince the garlic. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a sauté pan over low heat and add the minced garlic.
- Sauté and Add Ginger: Cook the garlic, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, approximately 2 minutes. Then add the grated ginger and sauté for an additional 1 minute, releasing aromatic flavors without burning.
- Prepare Peanut Sauce: Remove the pan from heat and add the creamy peanut butter, tamari or soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, sriracha, maple syrup or honey, red pepper flakes, and optional chili garlic sauce to the pan.
- Whisk Sauce: Begin whisking the mixture together while gradually adding 1/3 cup of hot water. Keep whisking until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Add more hot water, up to 1 cup total, as needed to reach your desired sauce consistency.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as desired by adding more soy sauce for saltiness, more sriracha for heat, or additional sweetener if preferred.
- Combine Noodles and Sauce: Toss the cooked noodles in the peanut sauce until they are well coated with the vibrant, spicy dressing.
- Serve: Transfer to serving bowls and garnish if desired with chopped peanuts, green onions, or cilantro for added texture and freshness.
Notes
- Use hot water to mix the peanut butter for easier blending and a smoother sauce consistency.
- Adjust the spiciness by controlling the amount of sriracha and red pepper flakes added.
- Brown rice noodles can be substituted with other types of noodles like soba or rice vermicelli if preferred.
- For a vegan option, substitute honey with maple syrup.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat gently before serving.
