Thai Inspired Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce
This is kind of a whatever was in my fridge and pantry version of that spicy peanut sauce you get at a great thai restaurant. I remember eating some amazing thai food on the upper west side of Manhattan when I lived over there, and this was one of my favorite things to get. It’s salty, sweet and spicy, and will definitely hit the spot if you’re wanting a quick thai noodle dish.
Recipe by Tierney Larson
Time: 2 hour chilling time for sauce, about 15 minutes prep and cooking time
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
1 tbl canola oil
3 scallions sliced thinly, green tops sliced kept to the side for topping
2 garlic cloves minced
1 tsp grated ginger
3 tsp gochujang chili paste (or Siracha)
1 tsp gochugaro chili flakes (or red pepper flakes)
2 tsp rice vinegar
1/2 cup all natural peanut butter
a pinch of brown sugar
kosher salt
2 8 oz packages of rice noodles
a handful of cilantro, chopped
sesame seeds
1/2 large cucumber, cut into matchsticks
4 slices of lime for serving
ok so…
make the sauce first:
Set a medium saucepan over medium heat. When hot, add the canola oil. When heated, add the scallion whites, garlic, ginger, chili flakes and a pinch of kosher salt and cook stirring constantly until fragrant. Next add the chili paste, rice wine vinegar, peanut butter and brown sugar and whisk. While whisking about 1/2 cup of water (or more) until the consistency is smooth and not too thick but still able to coat the noodles. Taste and add salt if necessary. Once you’re happy with the consistency and taste, remove from the heat and chill the sauce in the refrigerator until fully cold, about 2 hours.
When your sauce is chilled, bring a large pot of water up to a boil. (OR-some rice noodles have different cooking instructions so follow what the bag says, and if it has instructions for cold noodles, follow that one). Drain the noodles when they’re fully cooked and then rinse them under cold water, tossing with your hands to help them separate. Toss them in the peanut sauce, top with the greens from your chopped scallions, chopped cilantro, cucumber, chili flakes, a squeeze of lime and sesame seeds.
