Asian Peanut Noodle Bowl (Printable Version)

Tender noodles with crisp vegetables and savory-sweet peanut dressing, perfect warm or cold.

# What You Need:

→ Noodles

01 - 10 oz rice noodles or wheat noodles

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
03 - 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
04 - 2.8 oz shredded red cabbage
05 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
06 - 0.5 cup fresh cilantro leaves
07 - 0.5 cup bean sprouts

→ Peanut Dressing

08 - 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
09 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
10 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
11 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
12 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
13 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
14 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
15 - 2 to 4 tablespoons warm water

→ Toppings

16 - 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
17 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
18 - Lime wedges for serving

# Directions:

01 - Cook noodles according to package instructions until tender. Drain and rinse under cold water until cooled completely. Set aside.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey or maple syrup, ginger, and minced garlic. Gradually whisk in warm water, adding 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dressing reaches a smooth, pourable consistency.
03 - Transfer cooled noodles to a large mixing bowl. Add julienned carrot, sliced bell pepper, shredded cabbage, scallions, cilantro, and bean sprouts. Toss gently to combine.
04 - Pour the peanut dressing over the noodle and vegetable mixture. Toss thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated with dressing.
05 - Divide the noodle mixture among four serving bowls. Top each bowl with chopped roasted peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, and additional cilantro leaves.
06 - Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side. Enjoy at room temperature or gently warmed to preference.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes, which means you can have dinner on the table before hunger becomes a real problem.
  • The peanut dressing is genuinely creamy and complex without requiring anything fancy or hard to find.
  • You can eat it straight from the fridge or gently warm it—total flexibility for however your day unfolds.
02 -
  • If your dressing breaks or looks grainy, you've added the water too fast or the peanut butter was too cold—start over with a fresh batch and go slowly, whisking constantly.
  • Don't mix the noodles and dressing more than 15 minutes before serving or the noodles will absorb too much liquid and become mushy.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 2 minutes if you have them loose—the flavor is brighter and more alive than pre-toasted versions.
  • Keep the lime wedges separate and serve them on the side so people can adjust the acidity to their own taste without you having to guess.
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