This Peanut Noodle Salad is a fusion of flavors, featuring a rich, nutty peanut sauce combined with perfectly cooked noodles and topped with smoked tofu. It's a quick, delicious meal that brings the essence of Asian cuisine to your kitchen.
Servings 4
Prep Time 15 minutesmins
Cook Time 1 minutemin
Total Time 16 minutesmins
Equipment
Cooking Pot for boiling noodles
Mixing bowl for preparing the peanut sauce
Whisk or spoon for mixing the sauce
Cutting board and knife for preparing vegetables
Large bowl for tossing the noodles and sauce
Ingredients
For the Peanut Sauce:
1/3cupsmooth peanut butterabout 80 g
1/4cuplow-sodium soy sauce60 ml
1tspsesame oil
2tbspbrown sugar
1/2tspSri racha
1tbsprice vinegaror apple cider vinegar
2garlic clovesminced
1/4tspground ginger
3tbspnoodle water
For the Noodles:
8oznoodles225 g (I used soba)
Vegetables:
1cucumberjulienned
1spring onionthinly sliced
1bell pepperthinly sliced
1carrotjulienned
Toppings:
smoked tofuDiced
Sesame seeds
Chili oil
Fried dumplingsoptional
Prepare the Vegetables:
Julienne the cucumbercarrot, and bell pepper. Thinly slice the spring onion.
Instructions
Prepare the Peanut Sauce:
In a bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, Sri racha, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and ground ginger until smooth.
Once the noodles are cooked, add 3 tablespoons of noodle water to the sauce to thin it. Adjust the consistency to your liking.
Cook the Noodles:
Cook the soba noodles according to package instructions. Be sure to save some of the noodle water for the sauce.
Once cooked, rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and set aside.
Assemble the Salad:
In a large bowl, toss the cooled noodles & vegetables with the peanut sauce until evenly coated.
Add the Toppings:
Top the salad with diced smoked tofu, a sprinkle of sesame seeds, and a drizzle of chili oil for extra heat if desired.
Serve:
Serve the salad in bowls. If you're including fried dumplings, place them on the side or on top of the salad.
Enjoy!
This dish is perfect as a light lunch or a side dish for dinner. It’s packed with flavor and offers a wonderful balance of textures.
Notes
Noodle Choice: Soba noodles offer an authentic experience, but spaghetti, fettuccine, or ramen can be great substitutes.
Peanut Sauce Adjustments: Adjust the Sri racha and brown sugar in the peanut sauce to cater to your preferred level of spice and sweetness.
Vegetable Variations: Feel free to substitute or add other vegetables like spinach, snap peas, or mushrooms.
Make-Ahead: The peanut sauce can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Serving Suggestion: Serve hot or cold. Great as a standalone dish or paired with side dishes like spring rolls or a light salad.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently or enjoy cold.