These vegetarian peanut noodles are packed with veggies with a nice punch of vegetarian protein in the form of edamame and peanuts.
Is there anything better than homeade peanut sauce? I mean, seriously, can you name one thing? It's creamy, savory, slightly spicy with just a touch of sweetness. It doesn't get much better than that!
This vegetarian dish originated on our weekly Super Fast meal plans. With a bit of meal prep, it comes together, well, super fast.
To prepare these vegetarian peanut noodles, you'll start by chopping your bok choy and rough chopping your peanuts. Next, you'll make your peanut sauce by whisking together peanut butter, tamari, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey and sriracha. If you don't love spicy, start with just a touch of sriracha and add more until you love it! You can of course omit the sriracha altogether if you prefer.
After making the homemade peanut sauce, it's time to cook your udon noodles. Just follow the instructions on the package for this. While the noodles cook, you can chop your green onions.
Finally, you'll sauté your bok chop and edamame in a bit of olive oil for just 3-4 minutes.
Now it's time to build your bowls! Toss together your noodles, peanut sauce and veggies, tops with peanuts and green onions and enjoy!
Vegetarian Peanut Noodles w/ Edamame & Bok Choy
Ingredients
- 1 large bok choy
- 1 cup shelled roasted, unsalted peanuts
- 1/2 cup tamari (or SUB coconut aminos or soy sauce)
- 2 T toasted sesame oil
- 2 T rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tsp sriracha*
- 2 T peanut butter*
- 8 oz udon noodles*
- 1 small bunch green onions
- 1 T olive oil
- 12 oz shelled edamame
Instructions
- Chop bok choy into ~1-inch pieces.
- Rough chop 1 cup peanuts.
- Peanut sauce: In a medium container combine: 1/2 cup tamari, 2T sesame oil, 2T rice vinegar, 1/4 cup honey, 1tsp sriracha & 2T peanut butter.
- Cook 8oz udon noodles according to package directions.
- Chop green onions.
- Heat olive oil in a large, deep saute pan over medium heat. Add 2 cups edamame & sliced bok choy & cook ~3-4 mins.
- Toss noodles w/ peanut sauce, edamame & bok choy. Top w/ green onions & crushed peanuts.
Notes
Nutrition
Do vegetarian peanut noodles work for meal prep?
Yes indeed! These vegetarian peanut noodles are perfect for meal prep. To prep ahead, you can chop your bok choy, chop your peanuts and make your homemade peanut sauce and store in the fridge! That's it! Just a few minutes of meal prep and you'll have an easy weeknight dinner waiting for you.
When you're ready to finish the meal, all you'll need to do is cook your noodles, chop your green onions, sauté your veggies for a few minutes and assemble these bowls of deliciousness. That's all there is to it!
Tips & Variations
I love experimenting in the kitchen, especially after I've made a recipe once or twice. For one thing, I find it a fun way to exercise a little creativity. In addition though, being flexible with recipes is an excellent way to save on groceries by using up what you have.
For this type of recipe, subbing in different veggies is particularly easy. If bok choy is pricey one week or you just happen to have other veggies you need to use up, try those instead! Try broccoli, bell peppers, sautéed kale, cauliflower, carrots – you truly cannot go wrong!
I also sometimes adjust recipes to increase the protein. These vegetarian noodles are actually quite high in protein for a vegetarian dish, with around 35 grams per serving. If you'd like to add even more protein though, this dish is delicious with chicken or shrimp added. Just cook the protein separately, and add in when you're assembling your bowls.
Another way you can vary this dish is with the spice level. If you want spicy peanut butter noodles, increase that sriracha until you love it!
What else can I do with homemade peanut sauce?
If you love this homemade peanut sauce half as much as I do, you're going to want more ways to enjoy it! Here are a few ideas:
- Use as a dip for veggies. Either roasted or raw veggies are delicious here.
- Try peanut sauce as a salad dressing. You can thin it out a bit with warm water if needed.
- Use peanut sauce as a dip or sauce for grilled chicken.
- Try these other Prep Dish recipes using peanut sauce: Chicken Stir Fry w/ Peanut Sauce and Beef & Broccoli w/ Peanut Sauce.
What's the nutrition like for vegetarian peanut noodles?
These vegetarian peanut noodles are packed with nutrition. They're high in vegetarian protein and include a variety of vitamins and nutrients. Here are some highlights:
Bok Choy (Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Folate, Vitamin K, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium)
Like other cruciferous vegetables, bok choy may be beneficial in preventing cancer. The combination of vitamins found in book choy are also good for bone health and healthy blood pressure.
Edamame (Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Folate, Vitamin K1, Copper)
Edamame is quite high in protein for a vegetarian source and also offers many key vitamins. It may help with blood sugar control, lower cholesterol, and may help with symptoms of menopause.
Tamari
Tamari imparts all of the wonderful umami flavor of soy sauce, without the gluten. While most soy sauce in the US is made with wheat, tamari is generally wheat and gluten free, though you should of course look for the gluten free label to be sure if you have an intolerance!
Honey (Antioxidants, Antibacterial)
Honey has antibacterial and antioxidant properties, which are strongest in darker honey. Buy raw local honey when possible as filtering the honey can diminish its nutrients.
Peanuts (Copper, Folate, Vitamin E, Magnesium)
High in protein, peanuts are legumes rather than actual nuts. They're a great source of folate and vitamin E. Make sure to get peanut butter that contains only peanuts and perhaps a bit of salt to maximize the nutrition.
Green Onions (Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Fiber, Phytonutrients)
Also known as scallions, green onions are a good source of fiber. They also contain allicin, which scientists think may help prevent cancer growth. Like other onions, green onions are also full of antioxidants.
I want more healthy vegetarian meal prep recipes!
You've come to the right place! Here are a few of my favorite healthy vegetarian meal prep recipes:
Middle Eastern Salad w/ Tahini Sauce
This creamy, earthy tahini sauce is oh-so-satisfying! The salad itself is quite simple with just five ingredients: romaine lettuce, chickpeas, cucumber, cherry tomatoes and fresh parsley. This is a great one for a weeknight dinner or a packed lunch!
Grilled Veggie & Refried Bean Tacos
Who doesn't love tacos?! In this recipe, you'll grill the corn and poblanos, adding so much deep, smokey flavor. Add these to your Taco Tuesday rotation for sure!
Vegetable Soup w/ Quinoa & Beans
I love the Herbes de Provence in this healthy vegetable soup recipe. The vegetables are quite flexible so it's easy to adjust this one to the season or to your personal tastes.
FAQ – Everything You Want to Know About Vegetarian Peanut Noodles
What are peanut noodles made of?
Peanut noodles generally include noodles, peanut sauce, veggies and a protein source, either plant-based or some type of meat such as chicken. There are many different iterations of peanut noodles so the exact protein and veggies will vary quite a bit.
Are peanut noodles healthy?
Peanut noodles certainly can be healthy! If you use natural peanut butter made with just peanuts and salt and include plenty of protein and veggies in the dish, it can be quite healthy.
What's in homemade peanut sauce?
Our homemade peanut sauce is made with peanut butter, tamari, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey and sriracha. That's it! It's quite simple and incredibly delicious.
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