Spicy peanut butter noodles

This delicious spicy peanut butter noodles recipe needs only a few easily available ingredients and gets ready in just 15 minutes. This a perfect recipe for a lazy day cooking when you want to eat something tasty but don't want to spend hours in the kitchen. It's a vegan recipe.

Since last night, it's raining in Dubai. It’s one of those days when you don’t feel like doing anything except staying in your bed cuddled with a good book and a cup of tea or coffee.

As I wanted to spend more time reading than cooking, it was tough to decide what to make for dinner.  After every few lines, I had to pull my wandering mind from planning dinner back to the book. As the dinner time approached I kept on discarding all the ideas of cooking any dish that takes more than 30 minutes in the kitchen.

Finally, I decided to make one of my favorite noodle recipes-Spicy peanut butter noodles, that's perfect for such days.  It’s a delicious and easy ramen noodle recipe that gets ready in only 15 minutes.

It involves just 3 steps- cook noodles, make a quick creamy peanut butter sauce for noodles, and then mix the two.

If you are also looking for a quick meal recipe to make on a lazy day, try this recipe.

Ingredients needed

To make this spicy peanut butter ramen, you will need some basic ingredients that are shown below:

Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions

• Ramen: I have used instant ramen to make these peanut sauce noodles, feel free to use your favorite noodles to make this recipe. Wheat noodles, rice noodles, soba noodles, egg noodles, all are fine to be used in this recipe.
• Peanut butter: Creamy or crunchy, both can be used. Pick whichever you like. I also make it with both types of peanut butter depending on what's available in my kitchen and I equally enjoy them both.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic gives a better flavor but you can also use garlic powder. Both can be used too if you prefer a strong garlic flavor.
• White sesame seeds: Use toasted white sesame seeds, they are more flavorful and crunchy.
• Soy sauce: I have used dark soy sauce only. You can also mix dark and light soy sauce and use them in the recipe. You can also use low sodium soy sauce for a healthier version.
• White vinegar: You can also use white rice vinegar or lime juice in this recipe.
• Red chili sauce: Use any hot sauce depending on your spice level preference. You can use Asian chili garlic sauce too.
• Cooking oil: Sesame oil is the best choice for this recipe as it adds a nutty flavor to the dish. However, if you don't have that you can also use peanut oil or canola oil.

Other ingredient details and nutritional information are given in the recipe card.

How to make peanut butter noodles (step-by-step process)?

To make this peanut butter noodle recipe, just follow the easy step-by-step instructions given below:

Step 1: Cook noodles as per the package instructions.

Step 2: Strain the noodles and keep them aside.

Step 3: Put peanut butter, red chili sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, chili flakes, grated ginger, and minced garlic into a pan. Put the pan on the stovetop and turn on the heat.

Step 4: Cook the mixture until the peanut butter starts melting. Add a few tablespoons of warm water.

Step 5: Continuously stir and cook until you get a creamy peanut sauce with a consistency that could easily coat the ramen strands. Keep on adding water, a few tablespoons at a time, until you get the desired consistency.

Step 6: When the peanut sauce starts bubbling, add cooked ramen.

Step 7: Gently toss and turn off the heat.

Step 8: Garnish with chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds.

Your delicious creamy peanut butter ramen noodles are ready to be enjoyed.

How to serve?

You can enjoy these peanut noodles just like that without any side dish. But if you want, you can pair it up with any of the following side dishes from Asian cuisine:

1. Broccoli in garlic sauce
2. Chili garlic tofu
3. Eggplant in garlic sauce
4. Lemongrass tofu
5. Sweet and sour tofu
6. Tofu with bean sprouts and mushrooms
7. Pineapple tofu
8. Thai mushrooms
9. Kung pao cauliflower
10. Stir-fried snow peas

Or, just serve a simple Asian soup with it like this mushroom tom yum soup, veg manchow soup, or sweet corn soup.

An Asian salad like enoki mushroom salad or Thai red cabbage salad can also be served with it.

Storing and reheating tips

To store, allow the peanut butter ramen to reach room temperature and then transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for 2 days.

Reheat in the microwave or stovetop. The peanut sauce will thicken when you leave it for a while so while reheating add a splash of warm water to adjust the consistency of the sauce.

Recipe tips, tricks, and variation suggestions

• Those who are allergic to peanuts may use almond butter or any other nut butter.
• In this recipe, we have used peanut butter with added sugar and salt. If you are using natural peanut butter with no added sugar, you may add some maple syrup, honey, or palm sugar to the sauce.
• For a healthier version, you can add chopped fresh vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, snap peas, green peas, carrots, green beans, mushrooms, corn, or even fried or baked tofu to this dish.
• Add a teaspoon of Chinese sesame paste or tahini paste for a more intense nutty and earthy flavor.
• Garnish with roasted peanuts for extra crunch.
• To make a spicier peanut ramen, add some chili oil to the sauce or add more red pepper flakes.
• For a gluten-free version of this dish, use rice noodles, replace soy sauce with tamari, and make sure that the hot sauce you are using is also gluten-free.