Monday, September 28, 2009

Sesame Peanut (long life) Soba Noodles

Though my mother has been doing it for years, I've just now jumped on the bandwagon of using peanut butter in sauces and especially Asian dishes. In my younger, more health conscious days I scoffed at her peanut sauces fearing the fat and calories. Um, these days I just can't get enough! To hell with the diet! :)


Paired with a heartier buckwheat noodle, peanut butter shines but does not overpower this dish. Mixed with a little red pepper, rice vinegar, sweet chili sauce and soy sauce, these noodles epitomize my love of sweet & savory dishes. And while it may be Fall for many of you around the country, good ol' SD continues to surprise me with record high temperatures and an absurdly hot, un-air conditioned kitchen. Luckily you can serve these noodles cool, warm or hot depending on the temps in your area.


If you need to reheat, a touch of water and soy sauce helps to bring these noodles back to life. Speaking of life, its hubby's birthday & following my mother's tradition, noodles bring long life to the birthday boy or girl consuming them. Just don't cut the noodles lest you lead a broken or shortened life. Ahh, mama always knows best!

Sesame Peanut Soba Noodles
adapted from Crabby Cook

4 Tablespoons Peanut Butter
3 Tablespoons Honey
4 Tablespoons Water
1 Tablespoon sweet chili sauce
2 Tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 Tablespoon Rice Vinegar
1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, to taste

9 oz. cooked soba noodles
3/4 cup julienned carrots
Sesame Seeds for garnish

Cook the soba noodles according to package directions. Run soba noodles under cold water and then allow to drain fully.

While soba are cooking, combine all sauce ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat. Gently stir until peanut butter fully combines into sauce. Pour sauce into large bowl.

Heat saucepan over medium heat and saute carrots until crisp-tender. Remove from heat.

Toss soba and vegetables with sauce and carrots, mix well, ensuring the noodles are evenly covered in sauce.

Cover and allow to rest for about 20-30 minutes before serving.

20 comments:

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

You should try ALMOND butter next - it's divine and better than the PB version, I swear!! :)

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

Happy Birthday to the hubby! Love noodles that can be served at room temp. Great for a gathering.

vanillasugarblog said...

Ahhhh soba noodles. :::sigh::: I can never get enough of these and that sauce. I make mine way too spicy though, but I love it that way. I think my tastebuds are burned off.

BrittWilk said...

mmm... i love asian noodles. drool...

kat said...

We've been looking for a good recipe for this so we'll have to try yours.

grace said...

i still feel so bad that you're air-conditioner-less. i can't even imagine, but i'm sure you're coping wonderfully. your noodles look great. i'm a recent convert to using peanut butter in sauces too. to hell with the diet indeed!

alecho said...

ooooh! peanut butter sauce! I love it! and I'm glad to know how to make it now! thanx yo!

MaryBeth said...

This looks so good...I have just very recently tried peanut sauce for the first time and it was wonderful. I never knew that peanut butter would taste good on noodles and chicken.

Sasha said...

I love using peanut butter in these types of dishes! This looks great, good job : )

As for the fat/calories (don't you hate those words?,) peanut butter is high in calories but if you use the all natural stuff (no hydrogenated oils) it's actually very nutritious. It has HDL cholesterol, which lowers the LDL (bad) cholesterol. So eat up!

Leslie said...

I love love love soba noodles and thank goodness my kiddos do too!

Mini Baker said...

oh my god! yum yum yumm!!! this looks insanely delicious! I'm so excited i found your blog! Its one of my new favorites! I'll be back often :)
Mini Baker

Aggie said...

I absolutely love sesame noodles. I just recently started finding soba noodles at the store and am so excited about it! Great recipe!

Maria said...

I have a love affair with soba noodles!

The Blonde Duck said...

I'm not usually an Asian food fan, but Ben is, and I'm a definite PB and wheat noodle fan. I think we've got a winner!

Kerstin said...

PB is healthy - it's full of protein, at least that's what I tell myself :) Looks yummy!

noble pig said...

Yeah it's so good isn't it...and I love soba noodles!

Emily said...

Man, I love these noodles but I never think to make or eat them. They look perfect! Now I'm definitely craving them.

Velva said...

Amen to peanut butter! This looks fabulous!

Juliana said...

Yummie, love this kind of noddle, simple and yet so tasty!

Bunny said...

I've never had these noodles Sharon, you make them look so good! I have to try this!