“Peanut butter noodles!” comes the cheer from my boys as soon as they hear the blender fire up. That is, unless it’s Sunday morning. Then the cry becomes, “Smoothies!” While smoothies may edge out the noodles, this recipe has become a family favorite. My kids love it because it includes one of their most beloved ingredients: peanut butter, of course. We have exhausted our peanut butter sandwich repertoire. PB with jam, PB with bananas, PB with honey, PB with apples… This recipe uses peanut butter in a thankfully different way. My marathon-running husband appreciates this dish because it is a surefire method of delivering carbohydrates to his ever-moving muscles. I like it simply because it tastes great, is a cinch to make, and can be made hours in advance. These noodles are served cold and, like my Fusilli with Teriyaki Salmon and Vegetable Recipe, can be paired with any vegetables and meat you have in the fridge.
The peanut sauce recipe is adapted from Cooking Light Magazine.
The recipe:
The sauce:
In a blender, combine 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/3 cup soy sauce,
2 tablespoons sesame oil, 3 tablespoons rice wine or sherry,
1 tablespoon water, 1 1/2 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon canola oil, 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar,
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger, 1 minced garlic clove, and 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional – I usually leave this out if I’m serving the noodles to my kids). Blend until smooth.
The rest:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add 1 pound whole wheat spaghetti or soba noodles. Cook according to the package directions or until the noodles are al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Place the noodles in a large bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons sesame oil. To the noodles, add 1 cooked chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces; 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips; 1 cup sugar snap peas, trimmed; and 1 large carrot, julienned.
Pour the peanut sauce into the bowl and toss well.
Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds and serve.
Other recipes with peanut sauce:
Karina’s Kitchen’s Peanut Chicken Stir-Fry
Rasa Malaysia’s Prawns with Spicy Peanut Sauce
Inspired Bites’ Beef & Vegetable Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce
Whole Wheat (or Soba) Noodles with Peanut Sauce, Chicken & Vegetables
Ingredients
The Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons sesame oil divided
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons rice wine or sherry
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red chile flakes optional
The Rest:
- 1 pound whole wheat spaghetti or soba noodles
- 1 cooked chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 red bell pepper cut into thin strips
- 1 cup sugar snap peas trimmed
- 1 large carrot julienned
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
The Sauce:
- In a blender, combine 2 tbsp sesame oil, peanut butter, soy sauce, rice wine, water, rice vinegar, canola oil, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and red chile flakes. Blend until smooth.
The Rest:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add whole wheat spaghetti or soba noodles. Cook according to the package directions or until the noodles are al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Place the noodles in a large bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons sesame oil. Add chicken, red bell pepper, sugar snap peas, and carrot. Pour the peanut sauce into the bowl and toss well. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Rochelle says
I love noodles like this. I usually can't find soba noodles so whole wheat spaghetti or spaghettini works great 🙂
Divina Pe says
I love soba and peanut butter dressing. I have one on my blog too when I was just starting. Soba is always on my cupboard just in case I am hungry. And so does peanut butter, which reminds me that I need to make this again.
Tasty Trix says
Pretty dish. Love peanut noodles – I always add heat, like a garlic chili oil, but I don't know how kids would feel about that!
Elin says
CC !that delicious looking soba makes me hungry now. Thanks for sharing another winner! :))
Tasty Eats At Home says
Yum, I love peanut noodles! Will have to make for the kids soon!
Maria says
I love soba noodles, can't do the peanut sauce though-hubs is allergic:(
marla (Family Fresh Cooking) says
These PB noodles look so yummy!! We eat so much PB in my house, this recipe is a great twist on our favorite ingredient!! Thanks 🙂
wasabi prime says
Fabulous! What a great way to introduce new ingredients and textures to little ones, by associating it with flavors they like! I love using peanut butter for savory dishes — so rich and satisfying!
Leslie says
I just used your recipe for lunch today! It was yummy. I had some leftover beef brisket so I added some sliced super thin instead of the chicken. Thanks for the post.
Janice says
I've never had soba noodles, but this dish certainly will make me look out for them.
Cookin' Canuck says
@Rochelle – If I don't have soba noodles on hand, the whole wheat spaghetti works really well and we still get the healthy benefits of eating whole grains.
@DivinaPe – I"ll have to check out your version!
@TastyTrix – I agree that a little heat is great with this, as long as the kids can handle it.
Elin – Thank you!
Tasty Eats – This is definitely a kid-pleaser!
Maria – Well, you'll just have to make this for lunch when Josh is at work. It also makes a great potluck dish.
Marla – It's always nice to have a little variety, isn't it?
Wasabi Prime – I am lucky that my children indulge me by trying almost everything I cook.
Leslie – So glad to hear that! Beef brisket would be great with this. I have also served this with leftover grilled flank steak.
Barbara Bakes says
I don't use my blender enough. I'll have to give this great recipe a try!
pegasuslegend says
This sounds and looks delicious by the ingredients….have to try this!
Christine says
Being a mum and cook, have to find any way to get our kids to eat more and take more healthy foods. You're very clever to get your kids to eat whole wheat noodles with PB.
My kids like ketchup, your recipe would be turned into something like whole wheat noodles in ketchup sauce, chicken & veggies in my family 🙂
Again, love your pics!
Mae says
Perfect and simple recipe for soba!
Peas Love Carrots
Joy says
MMMmm I love soba noodles, I have never tried them with a peanut sauce but this recipe looks mucho yummy!
Fresh Local and Best says
This recipe looks so yummy and healthy!
The Klutzy Cook says
Oh my, this looks fantastic. My kids will be sooooo excited as they too love peanut butter. Plus, I can always get them to eat noodles. Great combination, thanks.
Cookin' Canuck says
Barbara – The blender makes very short work of this sauce!
Pegasus, Mae, Joy & Fresh Local – Thanks so much for your comments!
Christine – LOL! Let me know if you come up with a ketchup sauce that works. That would be a huge hit with my kids.
Klutzy Cook – Yes, peanut butter and noodles are always surefire kid-friendly ingredients.
Miranda says
CC! This is beautiful. Great job. You are so talented and your meals are always so unique and wonderful.
Not to mention, you are a very lucky women. I saw that you also won Dianna's giveaway! Congrats!!
Sophie says
I love soba noodles dishes!! they are more healthy & so tasty too!
I love this dish!
MMMMMMMMMMMM,…
ValleyWriter says
This looks soooo good! Too bad the hubby doesn't like peanut butter (CRAZY! I know!). I'll just have to save this for when he's away…
KrisKishere says
That looks delicious! I love peanut sauce, but I've never tried making my own. Thanks for this!
Hummingbird Appetite says
That looks so yummy!
My Little Space says
Such a wonderful healthy dish! Really awesome and it's a keeper for me! Thanks for sharing.
5 Star Foodie says
PB noodles – what a great idea! My daughter will be sure to love these!
Table Talk says
Your opening lines to this post about your children hearing the sound of the blender had me smiling—my girls do the same thing…they think it's smoothie time, only to find ancho chile sauce buzzing around the blender.
Chef Fresco says
What a great idea- homemade peanut sauce! I always feel like that stuff is way too pricey at the store. Thanks for the recipe!
Surreal says
Sounds dee-lish =] The only complaint I would have would be to point out that soba noodles are made of buckwheat and wheat flour which doesn’t exactly make it 100% whole wheat…but I guess they are still a healthier option than regular white noodles.
Good job though – I’ll definitely be trying this!