Asian Peanut Noodle Bowl (Printable)

Tender noodles with crisp vegetables in creamy peanut dressing. Perfect cold or warm for any meal.

# 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

# How-To:

01 - Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water. Set aside to cool.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, ginger, and garlic. Whisk until smooth, then gradually add warm water until the dressing reaches a pourable consistency.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled noodles, carrot, bell pepper, cabbage, scallions, cilantro, and bean sprouts.
04 - Pour the peanut dressing over the noodle and vegetable mixture. Toss thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Divide the noodle bowl among serving plates. Top each portion with chopped peanuts, sesame seeds, and additional cilantro.
06 - Serve with lime wedges on the side. Enjoy at room temperature, chilled, or gently warmed.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes, yet tastes like you spent way more effort than you did.
  • Cold or warm, it adapts to whatever mood you're in or whatever season it happens to be.
  • The peanut sauce is creamy and savory-sweet without feeling heavy, and you control exactly how thick you want it.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the noodles under cold water—warm noodles will wilt your fresh vegetables and make the whole bowl lose its brightness.
  • The dressing thickens slightly as it sits, so if you're making this ahead, whisk in an extra tablespoon of water right before serving to loosen it back up.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2–3 minutes if you have time; the flavor difference is night and day compared to buying them pre-toasted.
  • Don't be shy with the ginger—if you grate it fresh right over the peanut butter before whisking, you'll catch those bright, spicy notes that make the whole sauce sing.
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