Asian Side Dishes
Lately I've been making a lot of foods with Asian flavors, like these Honey Sriracha Pork Chops.
When I made the pork chops, I served them with Asian Slaw, which is my usual go to side dish.
I was working on a menu using Salt and Pepper Shrimp (coming soon!) and I wanted a more substantial side dish. Since shrimp and pasta are a match made in heaven, it was a no brainer.
There are many variations of peanut noodles, some spicy, some not so much. This is the version that I make the most often. It's creamy, easy and so delicious!
Ingredients
- Cilantro - try to buy organic since most delicate greens are sprayed.
- Chili Garlic Sauce - this Huy Fong Chili Sauce is the brand I buy. I use this stuff all the time, about 1 teaspoon is just the right amount of heat for me (for a recipe serving four.) It's a must have condiment for Beef Pho and Spicy Thai Pork Fried Rice.
- Ginger - store in the freezer for easy grating!
- Soy Sauce - I try to buy organic because most soybeans are GMO.
- Rice Wine Vinegar - get it at the Asian market, where it is so much cheaper!
- Lime Juice - buy organic, especially if you are using the zest.
- Brown Sugar - coconut sugar is also good.
- Noodles - honestly, I use whatever I have in the pantry. I happened to have some organic udon noodles, which I buy to make Chicken Udon Soup - a family favorite!
- Peanut Butter - I try to buy organic, this article on the pros and cons or organic peanut butter, might help you decide.
- Toasted Sesame Oil - sorry, not labeled in the above photo! This adds lots and lots of flavor, so you don't need much!
Directions
These creamy peanut noodles are so easy, you are going to make them all the time, just like we do!
Begin by bringing a pot of water to a boil for the noodles.
While you are doing that, grate the ginger and combine the peanut butter, sesame oil, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, fresh lime juice, soy sauce, grated ginger and the chili garlic sauce together in a small bowl.
Cook the pasta according to package directions. You can keep ¼ to ½ cup of the pasta water to thin the sauce if you want your saucer thinner.
Place pasta in a large bowl, toss with sauce. If too dry, thin with some of the pasta water. Serve garnished with parsley.
These sweet and spicy Thai noodles are so flavorful! So much flavor, from so little work!! We love these as a light lunch or dinner, they are great served at room temperature, so even better!
What to serve with peanut noodles? I've used them as a base for this Seared Salmon with Coconut Spinach, instead of the rice. I'm sure I don't even have to tell you how well they go with these Sticky Sesame and Ginger Pork Meatballs.
Thai Peanut Noodles
Ingredients
- 8 oz Spaghetti or your favorite long pasta
- 1 tablespoon Toasted Sesame Oil
- ¼ cup Peanut Butter creamy
- 2 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 2 tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar
- 2 tbsp Lime Juice
- 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Ginger grated
- 1 teaspoon Chili Garlic Sauce or more to taste
- ½ cup Cilantro minced, for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Cook noodles according to directions. Drain, reserving ¼ to ½ cup of the cooking water.
- While pasta is cooking, combine the sesame oil, peanut butter, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, lime juice, soy sauce, grated ginger and chili garlic sauce in a large bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Add drained pasta to sauce and toss to coat the noodles. If the sauce seems to dry, add some of the pasta water.
- Serve garnished with the cilantro.
Notes
Equipment
Video
Nutrition
This post was originally published in 2008 and has been updated for 2020.
Connie Grigg says
Love this- thank you for this recipe
Little Binky and Granny says
I'm hungry...this looks delicious😸Extra Pawkisses🐾😽💞
Healthy World Cuisine says
Pam, this is a fantastic little staple recipe! Love these little sweet, savory, sour and spicy bites of deliciousness. Saving to all of our favorite boards.
Kelly Anthony says
These peanut noodles will make the perfect weeknight meal for my family. We love spicy so they will be a huge success.
Pamela says
Loved the idea of using regular spaghetti to make this Thai dish. Thank you!
Julie says
This dish is amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
These noodles sound perfect. I love the combination of ingredients. Bookmarked for later!!
Dannii says
We love peanut noodles. Such an easy and comforting dish.
Hillary says
That deep brown color looks absolutely delicious! I'm going to have to try this one for sure. This is why I love Presto Pasta Nights!
katiez says
Thighs.... I'm not going there.
I also love any noodle/pasta dish with peanut sauce... And if that jar of peanut butter hasn't succumbed to 'peanut fingers' I can make this without going back to the store....
Kevin says
That looks like a tasty meal! I really like peanut noodles!
Mike of Mike's Table says
I also have a weakness for Asian peanut-sauce kind of dishes, and as soon as that first photo loaded, you had me hooked. This looks wonderful!
Grace says
there will be no smug smiling on my end--i can't grill worth a hoot. i'll be the girl in the corner, holding a plate of half-burnt, half-raw chicken breasts, hanging her head in shame. 🙂
[eatingclub] vancouver || js says
Looks fabulous! Great flavour combinations!
noble pig says
Looks amazing, I love improvising!
Paula says
Oh Pam, this is just the type of noodle dish I'm craving right now. My oldest girl would love this. I love that Sambal, too!
And, for what it's worth, grilling chicken breasts can be tricky. I've had luck with three different prep methods: 1. Pound them first so that they are the same thickness throughout. Great stress relief and it helps A LOT with the meat cooking evenly. Use a meat mallet or small, heavy pot to pound them. 2. You can slice your breasts in half (as if you were going to stuff them) so that you end up with two thin cutlet type pieces. That works well, too. 3. Brining them first helps keep them moist, too, but requires advance planning. All of those methods adds another prep step.
I'd suggest #1 or 2 as they are quickest and easiest. Give 'em a try! And I'd never smile smugly at you! Ever!
Congrats on your exercised thighs! Hey, the pounding of the chicken could be your upper body workout!
Peter M says
Pam, this is so off the the beaten path but the flavours here work and I love the deep brown colour of the noodles.
Alexis says
Wow! That looks amazing!
I will definitely try it.
Thanks!