Stir Fried Otsu Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce

I love stir-fry. When I am really needing a good fix of veggies, a quick meal (when do I not need it to be quick?), and of course, something budget friendly - I turn to stir-fry.

The great thing about stir-fry is that it never gets boring because there are so many ways to mix it up. You can change up the kinds of rice or noodles you eat with it, you can change up the veggies you include, you can alter the types of oils you cook it it, add any kind of meat or tofu, and change up the sauces to just about anything that sounds good.

By far, my favorite way to have it is with homemade spicy peanut sauce. Because I love peanut sauce. I have told you about my love for this condiment before, but you need to understand that it makes everything taste amazing. Everything. I decided to go with Otsu Noodles (cause I had some in the pantry) and some inexpensive veggies (I wanted to include cauliflower also, maybe next time). It was a great little meal - and now I have plenty of leftover peanut sauce in the fridge to enjoy later.


Stir-fried Otsu Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce
2 bunches Otsu Noodles
1 smallish head Broccoli, chopped into florets
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup chopped red onion (about one small red onion)
about 4 cups chopped white mushrooms
(other veggies suggestions: asparagus, cauliflower, zuchinni, summer squash, carrots, greens, cabbage...I tend to go with the option that look best at the market that day)
olive or sesame oil
a few Tbs Soy Sauce
Spicy Peanut Sauce (recipe below)
water

First, make the peanut sauce (recipe below) and set aside. Boil the noodles according to package directions - usually 3 to 5 minutes. Drain and rinse under cool water.

Heat a few tablespoons oil in a large nonstick wok on medium high heat. Add onions and broccoli and toss. Cook until broccoli is a perfect bright green, then remove broccoli florets from pan (onions can stay).

Add the rest of the veggies and a couple shakes of soy sauce and cook until tender and starting to brown - stirring/tossing frequently (about 5 minutes).

Put the broccoli back in the pan. Add a few heaping tablespoons of the peanut sauce (to taste) and toss to combine. Let cook for a couple more minutes, stirring continuously. Add the noodles and more sauce and toss. Crank up heat to high and toss in the very hot pan for a couple of minutes, or until well combined and noodles just barely start to brown.

Serve immediately.


Spicy Peanut Sauce
1/3 cup all-natural (no corn syrup, not a bunch of added sugar) creamy Peanut Butter
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
3 cloves garlic, pressed (or minced and crushed)
2 tbsp rice vinegar
3 tbsp tahini
2 tbs Sambal-Oelek
1 or 2 tsp Sriracha Sauce

Place all ingredients in a sauce pan over low heat. Stir and heat until it has reach a smooth and creamy consistency. Serve immediately or keeps several weeks in the fridge. As it cools it will change consistency slightly, become thicker. If you like, heat in the microwave over medium heat or in a sauce pan on low before serving. Its also good cold straight out of the fridge :)