Spicy Peanut Noodles

This super easy spicy peanut noodles dish is made in less than thirty minutes, which makes it an ideal weeknight meal. The homemade peanut sauce is balanced with the addition of vinegar and soy sauce, which all combine to form a sweet, yet savory flavor profile. Tossed with some vegetables, the entire recipe has everything you want and need for dinner!

INGREDIENTS

8 oz brown rice noodles (spaghetti is fine if that's what you have)
2 cloves garlic minced
⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
2 tbsp rice vinegar
⅓ cup soy sauce
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
3 scallions chopped
5 carrots cut into matchsticks
1 medium red bell pepper cut into matchsticks
1 tbsp chili crisp oil (optional)
1 ½ tbsp kimchi liquid (optional)
basil as desired
roasted peanuts as desired

DIRECTIONS

Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil. Add the rice noodles and return the water to a boil. Cook until the noodles are tender, 5-7 minutes. Once the noodles are tender, drain the noodles and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Set the noodles aside while preparing the vegetables.
In a 12-inch skillet, heat 2 tbsp neutral oil over medium heat. Add the scallion, carrots, and red bell pepper. Stir fry the vegetables until they're softened and beginning to brown, 8-10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. While the vegetables are cooking, prepare the sauce.
In a small bowl, combine the peanut butter, rice vinegar, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, chili crisp oil (if using), and kimchi liquid (if using). Whisk until smooth.
Pour the prepared sauce on the cooked vegetables and bring it to a simmer. Simmer for one minute and add the cooked noodles. Stir the noodles to coat in the sauce and warm them, 2-3 minutes. Serve immediately with roasted peanuts and torn basil leaves.

TIPS

When cooking the vegetables in the skillet, make sure to add the chopped garlic at the very end of the cook time. If the garlic was added at the very beginning with the other vegetables, it would cook for too long. Adding it at the end of the cooking will prevent the garlic from burning.
This recipe is vegetarian as written, but if you want to add some meat to the dish, try adding chicken or shrimp. If adding meat, it’s best to cook it separately and then add in with the noodles as everything is being combined.
Use low-sodium soy sauce if you want to decrease the amount of sodium in this recipe. The flavor will still be the same!