Asian Peanut Noodle Bowl (Printable Version)

Tender noodles with crisp vegetables in creamy peanut dressing. Ready in 30 minutes.

# 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, as needed

→ Toppings

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

# How To Make It:

01 - Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water until completely cooled. 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 until the dressing achieves a smooth, pourable consistency.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked noodles, julienned carrot, sliced bell pepper, shredded cabbage, scallions, cilantro, and bean sprouts.
04 - Pour the peanut dressing over the noodle and vegetable combination. Toss thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Divide the dressed noodle bowl among serving plates. Top each portion with chopped peanuts, sesame seeds, and additional fresh cilantro.
06 - Present with lime wedges on the side. Serve chilled or gently warmed according to preference.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The dressing comes together in one bowl and tastes better than any takeout version, mostly because you control how much honey and heat you want in every bite.
  • It's genuinely forgiving—swap vegetables, adjust the dressing thickness, serve it warm or cold, and it still works beautifully.
  • Something about the combination of crisp vegetables, soft noodles, and creamy dressing feels indulgent while still being light enough to eat on a warm day.
02 -
  • The dressing will thicken as it sits, so if you're not eating immediately, whisk in a little extra warm water right before serving to restore it to pourable consistency.
  • Don't skip rinsing the cooked noodles under cold water—this stops them from cooking further and keeps them from clumping together into an unusable mass.
03 -
  • Make the dressing the night before and store it in the refrigerator—it actually tastes better after the flavors have had time to know each other, and it makes assembly incredibly fast.
  • If the peanut butter is cold straight from the jar, warm it slightly in the microwave for ten seconds before whisking, and it'll combine with the other ingredients without lumping.
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