As the weather is warming up, this crunchy asian soba noodles served cold is the perfect way to cool off. Tossed in spicy almond butter sauce with fresh vegetables, this meal can be enjoyed in under 30 minutes.
As a food blogger and recipe developer, I often find myself racking my brain over trying to create a recipe that is one-of-a-kind, ingenious and sure to go viral. I mean, why didn’t I think of making jam out of chia seeds? Pizza crust out of cauliflower? Adding black beans to brownies…? BTW, these things would NEVER have crossed my mind. Regardless, I’ve lost count of how many times I've found myself in that place of comparison and self-doubt. Consequently, I’ve noticed my love and desire to cook dwindling.
I share all this to remind myself to just chill out and remember what my past experiences have taught me - sometimes the best things happen when you allow them to unfold organically. I just need to stay true to myself and how I cook. My recipes as of late seem to reflect this shift in thinking. They went from fancy-wannabes with never-ending ingredient lists to quick & easy, yet healthy recipes because the Lord knows I just ain’t got time for that. Most of the time, I just like to throw everything into one pot/one bowl and call it a day. Who knows? Perhaps I’ll stumble upon an ingenious kitchen hack or recipe all while marching to the beat of my own drum.
Today, I’m sharing a super easy Asian noodle dish that actually tastes better the longer it sits. If you were curious, the inspiration stemmed from my determination to use up my almond butter so that I could enjoy overnight oats in a jar (Just being real here. It was an intense craving that needed to be addressed ASAP). I’ve already shared my go-to peanut sauce, and all I did here was swap out the two kinds of nut butter. Why reinvent the wheel, right? The almond butter made the sauce a bit earthier and richer, which I didn’t mind. I recommend starting with 1 tablespoon of brown sugar and adjusting the level of sweetness to your liking. With Asian cooking, it’s all about finding that balance between sweetness/savoriness/sourness and in this case spiciness.
I like to make this dish a day in advance as the flavors in the sauce become more harmonious over time. I got the sense that the vinegar and the nut butter don't like to mingle on the first day and need some time to get chummy chummy. Plus, it’s delicious when it’s super chilled. As for the rest of the ingredients in the dish, I kept them super simple and used up some of the vegetables I had prepped over the weekend. Feel free to use whatever ingredients you have on hand. Red bell peppers, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms..they can all join the party!
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 2 bundles of buckwheat soba noodles cooked
- ½ cup sugar snap peas
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup sliced zucchini
- 2 cups cooked protein of choice chicken, pork, shrimp, tofu, etc., or can be left out
- 2 green onions thinly sliced (more for garnish)
- A drizzle of sesame oil
For the dressing
- â…“ cup smooth peanut butter
- ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon sriracha chili sauce
- 1 large garlic clove pressed
- Additional water to thin out dressing
Instructions
- For the dressing - add all the ingredients to a food processor and blend until well combined. Add water to your desired thickness.
- For the salad -combine all the ingredients except for the sesame oil together. Stir in the sauce and combine thoroughly. Store in the refrigerator. Serve with fresh green onions and a drizzle of sesame oil.
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Sarah @ SnixyKitchen says
This is exactly the kind of recipe I'm looking for in my life - I need more of these wam bam eat recipes! I love this post too - the sentiment of staying true to yourself is something that's easy to forget and get caught up in the "maybe THIS will be my big moment" blog land;) Thanks for being you and for inspiring me with perfect meals!
Min says
Thanks, my sweet friend! We really should catch up soon! Haha "wam bam eat"...love it!
ellie | fit for the soul says
So agree on this post, Unnie. It's so much more fun and rewarding (not to mention less stressful) when we stay true to OUR cooking-selves! I think when we truly enjoy making and displaying what we eat and make--be it simple or complex--people catch on because they want that same experience. And this my friend, is one of my favorite combinations! It's simple but so delightful. I eat something similar to these flavors quite often, especially when I'm in a rush for cooking dinner, and turns out that I always fall back on this kind of combo and not something super crazy 10000 ingredients requiring recipe, hehe. ^_^
Lisa @ Healthy Nibbles & Bits says
I know how you feel about the pressure to come up with a fancy recipe all the time! That's totally why I was in such a deep funk on my blog the last few weeks. Staying true to yourself and relying on our "go to" recipes is so important. LOVE this soba salad!
Chelsea @ Chelsea's Healthy Kitchen says
I can so relate to this Min! I found myself getting really wrapped up in my blog and stressing out about it a few weeks ago. And that was when I realized I needed to take a step back and get some perspective. I'd much rather blog about what I eat, not eat what I blog about - you now?
Anyway, this looks delicious and I'm far more likely to make this than a cauliflower crust pizza anyways. 😉
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts says
Yum! This looks delicious Min - my kind of meal (as so many of your dishes are) 🙂
Marisa @ Uproot from Oregon says
I have done my best to dial down my want to make crazy recipes - because in all honesty, they're exhausting to keep testing and people are looking for the simple go to's you have in your back pocket already! This looks like a lovely noodle dish and I need to try that dressing.
Katie @ Mom to Mom Nutrition says
I comparison factor is SO hard--- but remember YOU are special and unique and it clearly shows through your awesome recipes [and writing--- which keeps me coming back for more 🙂 ]
Lauren @ Eating with a Purpose says
I've been loving almond butter in savory recipes- can't wait to try this one out. Pinning to make!
Elizabeth @ Enjoy Every Bite says
This looks delicious!! I'm so glad I'm not the only one talking about my love for healthy & EASY meals today! Your recipes always impress me and I appreciate ingredient lists that are short and sweet 🙂