Spicy Peanut Noodles

Spice up your noodles with this spicy peanut noodles recipe. Thick and decadent, these easy spicy peanut noodles take less than 20 minutes from start to finish. Don't like it spicy? Make it mild with a few simple adjustments.

I love noodles and Asian food, so I made spicy peanut noodles today. There's something delicious about noodles in spicy peanut noodle sauce. Not only is my spicy peanut noodle recipe simple, but it's also quick. And, I love any recipe that takes less than 20 minutes from the pan to the fork. Although easy spicy noodles imply spiciness, they can also be mild with a few adjustments. So, if you love creamy, peanutty flavors but spicy sensitive, check out the mild recipe version. 

Jump to:

• Spicy Peanut Noodles Ingredients
• Spicy Peanut Noodles Ingredient Substitutions
• Spicy Peanut Sauce Ingredients
• Spicy Peanut Sauce Ingredient Substitutions
• How to Make Spicy Peanut Noodles Recipe
• Recipe FAQs
• Tips
• Enjoy these Vegan Asian Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

Without a doubt, spicy peanut noodles rank high on my family's favorite dinners. However, even though my kids love spicy food, there's always someone who likes it milder and hotter. Therefore, I make the sauce and allow everyone to adjust their spice preferences after serving the noodles. This way, everyone's happy. 

The trick, however, is always to taste as you cook and never add spice carelessly. Since everyone has different preferences regarding spiciness, it's important to remember that removing spice is impossible once added. So, tread lightly, and add spice as you go. 

Also, spices often come a little later, once absorbed into sauces and other food. Initially, spice tastes mild but enhances over time. So again, add slowly and be aware of how spices improve over time. 

Spicy Peanut Noodles Ingredients

• Rice Noodles: Rice noodles are one of my favorite noodles. Gluten-free and low in calories, these noodles are a great way to enjoy peanut noodles.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic is best when making any recipe. Fresh garlic has a deeper flavor than jarred garlic.
• White Onion: White onion, although strong in flavor, caramelizes and gets sweeter as it cooks.
• Ginger: Fresh ginger is preferred in this spicy peanut noodles recipe because of its deep flavor.
• Sriracha Tofu: I used Trader Joe's pre-cooked Sriracha tofu.
• Green Onions: Green onions. In most recipes, you will be cooking scallions or green onions; you'll use the white and the pale green portion of the onion just above the root. But the darker green leaves are a delicious garnish for everything from soups to casseroles without any cooking needed.
• Peanuts: Peanuts are used as a garnish and are optional.
• Cilantro: Cilantro is also a garnish added at the end for additional flavor and taste.

Spicy Peanut Noodles Ingredient Substitutions

• Any noodles work as a base for this recipe. There are several different brands of rice noodles, so pick your favorite thickness and shape.
• One clove of fresh garlic equals ¼ teaspoon of granulated garlic powder. The same conversion applies to dehydrated or freeze-dried garlic or even minced refrigerated garlic.
• Yellow onion is similar to white onion in taste and texture.
• Converting fresh ginger to ground ginger and vice versa is easy. You'll need to use more because ground ginger is more concentrated. For every ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger, use 1 tablespoon of fresh-grated ginger in recipes. This works in the opposite direction as well.
• Make your own tofu by selecting extra firm tofu and marinate it in 1 teaspoon Sriracha and 2 Tablespoons soy sauce overnight.
• If you don't like cilantro, try parsley or basil, or skip this ingredient.

Spicy Peanut Sauce Ingredients

As with all recipes, the spicy peanut sauce is the secret to this Asian noodle recipe. 

• Natural Peanut Butter: Natural peanut butter is without sugar or additives. Its peanuts are blended in a food processor until it's creamy, or purchase natural peanut butter in ajar at the store.
• Soy Sauce: Soy sauce adds an umami flavor to the peanut butter.
• Hot Water: Hot water thins out the sauce. You need hot water because the peanut butter is thick.
• Rice Vinegar: Rice vinegar adds acidity and sweet flavoring to the sauce.
• Sriracha: Sriracha gets its heat from red jalapeños peppers. Surprisingly, the sauce is only moderately spicy. On the Scoville scale, developed to measure chile heat level, sriracha measures 2,200. By contrast, Tabasco sauce clocks in at 3,750 and cayenne pepper at a startling 50,000!
• Maple Syrup: Maple syrup is a natural way of flavoring sauces and dressings without adding sugar to the peanut noodles recipe.
• Chili Garlic Sauce: Chili garlic sauce is made with chili peppers, garlic, rice vinegar, and salt. The sauce is spicy, tangy, and fragrant. It's similar in flavor to Sriracha, but the texture is chunky rather than smooth, with chili pepper pieces and seeds still visible in the sauce.
• Red Pepper Flakes (Optional): If you want to turn up the heat, as I do, add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. If you don't like it hot, skip this ingredient.

Spicy Peanut Sauce Ingredient Substitutions

• PB Fit is an option for creamy peanut sauce with fewer calories and fat.
• Choose Tamari for a gluten-free option. Liquid aminos work well, also.
• Champagne vinegar is similar to rice vinegar in terms of flavor and sweetness.
• Try any hot sauce you have in the pantry or refrigerator if you don't have Sriracha.
• Date syrup or agave replace maple syrup in recipes.
• Try sriracha sauce, Sambal Oelek sauce, chili paste, harissa paste, and chili-garlic paste to substitute chili garlic sauce.
• Cayenne pepper is similar to red pepper flakes.

How to Make Spicy Peanut Noodles Recipe

First, prepare the rice noodles following the instructions by soaking them in hot water, rinsing them in a colander, and setting them aside. 

Next, prepare the spicy peanut noodle sauce by adding all the ingredients to a high-speed blender and blending until smooth. 

Then, cut the pre-cooked, Sriracha tofu into bite-sized pieces, approximately ½-inch cubes.

Note: If using uncooked extra-firm tofu, cut the tofu, marinate in Sriracha sauce and soy (Tamari) overnight, and bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Or, for a more crunchy option, air-fry the tofu at 370 degrees for 15 minutes. 

Now, saute the onion and garlic in a non-stick pan, and add the cooked tofu. 

Cook until the onions are translucent and the tofu is warm. Then, add the cooked, drained rice noodles to the pan and toss them with the other ingredients. 

The final step is to add the sauce, again tossing and coating the noodles. 

For the garnish, add peanuts, green onions, and cilantro. Serve with additional Sriracha and red pepper flakes for the spice lovers like me. 

I never have leftovers when making a peanut noodles recipe, so you may want to double the recipe. 

Recipe FAQs

Tips

• When blending the sauce, use hot water, not old water to avoid clumps.
• If using uncooked extra-firm tofu, cut the tofu, marinate in Sriracha sauce and soy (Tamari) overnight, and bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Or, for a more crunchy option, air-fry the tofu at 370 degrees for 15 minutes. 
• Marinating tofu overnight helps the tofu absorb the flavors of the marinade.
• If you don't want spicy marinade, leave out the Sriracha.
• Remember to add spicy ingredients in small amounts and to adjust to taste preference. I love spicy food, but everyone does not have the same palette.
• Make this recipe mild in spice by following the adjustments provided in the recipe.
• Add additional vegetables like broccoli, carrots, edamame, bok choy, or any favorite combination.
• Use soba noodles, rice noodles, or any noodles preferred.

If you like a little spice in your life, try these spicy peanut noodles! Add tofu or eat the noodles plain; this recipe is delectable!

Enjoy these Vegan Asian Recipes

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