Veggie Peanut "Noods"
All you need to do is cook the noodles, broccoli, and edamame all together, at the same time, in a big pot of boiling water, and you're near to making a very quick, delicious dish.
Servings: 4
Author: From "What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking", by Caroline Chambers
- 10 oz broccoli florets
- 9 oz instant ramen noodles
- 1 cup frozen shelled edamame
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce plus more if needed
- 3 Tbsp rice vinegar plus more if needed
- 1 Tbsp sriracha plus 1 to 2 Tbsp more if needed
- 1 Tbsp honey or sugar plus more if needed
- 1 Tbsp cold water or more, as needed
Toppings (optional)
- thin sliced scallions, chopped cilantro, more sriracha, chopped toasted peanuts or almonds, sesame seeds, shredded carrots.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
Break the broccoli florets into 1-inch pieces. Add broccoli, ramen noodles and edamame to boiling water and cook until the ramen is tender, but maintains a nice chewy bite, and broccoli is tender. Drain in a colander, rinse with cold water, and then shake to get the excess water out.
Meanwhile, in a liquid measuring cup, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, sriracha, honey, and 1 Tbsp of water. It will seem very difficult to stir, but it'll come together - just keep stirring! Add more water, 1 Tbsp at a time, as needed, until you achieve a loose, drizzle-able consistency. Taste and add more soy sauce, vinegar, sriracha, and/or honey to your liking.
In a serving bowl, toss noodles and vegetables with half of the peanut sauce until coated. If you like a super saucy dish, add more sauce. If the noods get too thick, add water, a tiny splash at a time, until consistency is perfect. Divide among bowls and top with whatever you like and have handy.
Enjoy!
Kitchen Note:
Here, you get to utilize one of the greatest time-saving cooking hacks: cooking the noodles and broccoli in the same pot. If a big pot of water is already boiling for pasta, use it to cook other things too! Steam veggies for tomorrow's lunch! Boil some eggs for the week!
Refrigerate any left-over sauce in an airtight container for up to a month. For a meal idea, steam frozen dumplings and broccoli at the same time, and then serve with left-over peanut sauce for dipping, as a quick meal.