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The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
677 | Calories |
37g | Fat |
66g | Carbs |
32g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 2 to 4 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 677 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 37g | 48% |
Saturated Fat 5g | 23% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 1008mg | 44% |
Total Carbohydrate 66g | 24% |
Dietary Fiber 10g | 35% |
Protein 32g | |
Calcium 687mg | 53% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
Authentic Thai Peanut Noodles are made with real peanuts instead of peanut butter, and you'll taste the difference. This dish offers a flavorful, nutty sauce combined with the chewy-sticky texture of stir-fried rice noodles. Add your choice of chicken or tofu, or make them vegetarian or vegan just with the peanut sauce.
The key to this dish is not to over-soften the noodles at the beginning―they need to remain firm in order to reach their chewy perfection later in the frying pan or wok. This dish is naturally gluten-free.
Ingredients
- 8 to 12 oz. rice noodles (linguini-width, enough for 2 to 4 people)
- Optional: 1 to 1 1/2 cups cubed firm tofu (or 2 chicken thighs, cut into small pieces)
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 green onions (sliced)
- 2 to 3 cups bean sprouts
- 1 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 to 3 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1/2 cup fresh basil
- 2 tbsp. vegetable oil (for stir-frying)
- Peanut Stir-Fry Sauce:
- 3/4 cup hot water
- 1 teaspoon tamarind paste
- 1 cup dry-roasted peanuts (unsalted)
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (use wheat-free soy sauce for gluten-free diets)
- 3 to 4 tablespoon brown sugar (to taste)
- 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Place cubed tofu or chicken (if using) in a bowl together with 3 tablespoons soy sauce. Stir to combine and set aside to marinate while you prepare the sauce.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Stir tamarind paste into the hot water until dissolved. Pour into your food processor or blender. Add all other sauce ingredients and pulse. Taste-test for sweetness and spice, adding more sugar or chili/cayenne if desired. Set aside.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Boil rice noodles to soften. Note: you still want them firm and too 'crunchy' to eat (firmer than 'al dente). Drain and rinse well with cold water to stop the cooking process.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Warm a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons oil and swirl around, then add the tofu or chicken. Stir fry until lightly browned and cooked. Remove from heat and transfer to a clean bowl. Set aside.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Return wok/pan to heat and add 2 to 3 tablespoons more oil. Now add the noodles (you'll hear them sizzle as they hit the hot oil). Using two utensils and a lifting-turning motion, stir-fry 1 minute.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Add 1/3 to 1/2 of the peanut stir-fry sauce, plus the fried tofu or chicken (if using). Stir-fry until sauce is distributed throughout the noodles.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Add the bean sprouts plus a little more of the sauce. Stir-fry and taste-test as you go, adding more sauce until desired taste is achieved. Stir-fry until noodles are soft but still pleasantly chewy. Add more fish sauce if not salty or flavorful enough.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Top with a drizzle of sesame oil followed by a generous sprinkling of sesame seeds. Sprinkle over green onion and fresh basil. Enjoy!
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Tips
- If You Have Leftover Peanut Sauce: Refrigerate any leftover peanut sauce in a covered container up to 2 weeks; freeze thereafter. Note that peanut sauce will thicken as it sits, but you can easily thin it out again. If you wish to keep it as a stir-fry sauce, just add water to thin it. To make it into a delicious dip, add up to 1/4 cup coconut milk. Peanut dip is wonderful served with chicken satay, or fresh rolls, or even as a dressing with a raw vegetable salad. It also makes a terrific marinade for grilled chicken or tofu.