Veggie & Rice Noodle Bowl With Ginger Peanut Dressing

I love noodle dishes, and this particular one is my favorite. It meets all of the criteria I look for when choosing a meal, including being quick, tasty, healthy, and satisfying. Thanks to the creamy ginger-peanut sauce and sriracha, this dish is a combination of sweet and spicy. This is the essence of delicious simplicity.

It’s simple. Prepare the rice noodles. Chop up your favorite veggies (I like carrots and green onion), add some protein (like tofu), and fresh herbs (basil, my favorite). Then, whisk together a quick dressing. This dish is so filling, and it only takes 10-15 minutes to prepare. This recipe is also gluten-free and vegan. For those who don’t like peanut butter, you can substitute cashew or tahini. We can all enjoy this delicious treat guilt-free.

This is a dish I make for dinner. However, instead of adding a sauce directly to the noodles, I cook them all together. This fresh version is light and refreshing, and it’s perfect for mid-day. It would be a great mid-week meal, as it is quick and easy to prepare and can easily be served buffet style.

The peanut dressing—peanut butter, toasted sesame oils, honey, lime, ginger, and chili-garlic sauceGinger this dish special.

Ingredients

NOODLES

• ~3 oz. White or brown rice noodles (three ounces equals about one-quarter of a box of 14 oz rice noodles).

PEANUT DRESSING

• 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
• Use one heaping Tbsp salted natural peanut butter or substitute other nut butter, such as cashew or almond.
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup or brown sugar (or honey, if you’re not vegan).
• Use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce if you are soy-free.
• 1 Tbsp of lime juice
• Add more according to taste.
• Fresh minced or grated GingGingerr teaspoon
• 1 to 2 Tbsp of very hot water, only if the mixture is too thick

Vegetables

• Tofu: 1/4 cup extra-firm tofu, uncooked (patted and cubed).
• 1/4 cup small carrots (chop in matchsticks).
• 1/4 cup diced Green Onion
• Sriracha with fresh basil (for a topping)

Instructions

• Prepare noodles according to the package instructions. Typically, place them in a large bowl and pour boiling water on top. Let sit for 10 minutes, then drain.
• To prepare the dressing, add the following ingredients to a small bowl: peanut butter, sesame, maple or brown sugar, soy or tamari sauce, lime juice, and chili garlic sauce. If the dressing is too thick, whisk in a little hot water. Set aside.
• Drain and rinse noodles with cold water. Place noodles on a towel and allow to dry slightly.
• Tofu, carrots, and green onions can be added to the serving bowl. Serve immediately with a peanut dressing, fresh basil, and sriracha.