Spicy Peanut Soba Noodles – It’s What’s For Dinner (Again)

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(Spicy Peanut Soba Noodles – recipe in post)

One of my favorite, simple, go-to dinners are noodles with peanut sauce. In fact, I’ve already made a post about it, here: Spicy Peanut Sauce – It’s What’s For Dinner

After my Seaweed Fiasco a couple of days ago, I went in search of a way to repurpose the incredible, flavorful sesame ginger vinaigrette I had made. My intention was to sweeten it up, and make a cool soba noodle salad… but then a voice in my head came to me, in a whisper, and it said: peanut butter.

Huh. That voice knows me well.

And so, a new sweet and spicy peanut sauce was born. Enter, the most addictive plate of food dished up in under thirty minutes. Sorry Rachel Ray – step aside. It’s time for Spicy Peanut Soba Noodles to take the stage.

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Soba, or buckwheat, noodles are a traditional Japanese pasta. With a delicate brown hue and a sweet, almost nutty, flavor, they stand out among the many other pasta types. They are often served chilled, in the summer, or in hot soup in the winter – but I find them fitting for nearly any noodle application.

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If you’d like to leave out the peanut butter, you’ll be left with an intense dressing. Thin it with 4-5 TBSP safflower or peanut oil, throw in some toasted sesame seeds, and you’re well on your way to yet another delicious meal!

Spicy Peanut Soba Noodles
Serves 4 – vegetarian, and easily made vegan

9 oz. package soba (buckwheat) noodles
6-8 oz. sugar snap peas, broccoli, or other vegetable (optional)

3 TBSP dark toasted sesame oil
2 clove garlic, minced
2 TBSP fresh ginger, grated
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce, or tamari
1/4 cup honey (or agave, or sugar)
2 tsp. Mirin (sweetened sake)
1/4-1/2 tsp. hot chili oil, or to taste (or sriracha, or cayenne pepper)
1/2 cup natural creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup water, to thin as desired

Roasted peanuts, for garnish
Chives or scallions, for garnish (optional)
Method
In a pan over medium heat, add the toasted sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. If using snap peas or other vegetables, add them to the pan. Saute for 1-2 minutes, or until the garlic is golden and veggies are bright green. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients, stir until smooth, and thin with water to desired consistency.

In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Cook soba noodles according to package directions (usually about three minutes) or until al-dente. Drain, and add to the pan with the sauce and vegetables. Toss to combine. Garnish with roasted peanuts and fresh chives.

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29 Responses to Spicy Peanut Soba Noodles – It’s What’s For Dinner (Again)

  1. From Valeries Kitchen June 23, 2012 at 8:41 pm #

    My boys would eat these like there was no tomorrow. We love peanut sauce around here and your recipe looks great Willow. Pinning!

    • Willow June 23, 2012 at 9:08 pm #

      Thanks! I am a *huge* fan of peanut sauce. I have yet to find one I don’t like!

  2. Peaches & Cream June 23, 2012 at 11:38 pm #

    YUM! That looks soo good! I am going to have to make this for dinner this week. Thanks Willow!

    • Willow June 23, 2012 at 11:39 pm #

      Wonderful – I hope you like it!

  3. Jen @JuanitasCocina June 24, 2012 at 1:39 am #

    Oy. These look FAB-U-LOUS.

    I need to find soba noodles!

  4. Riley June 24, 2012 at 3:10 am #

    This looks like something I would absolutely love! Pictures are great too.

  5. glutenfreehappytummy.com June 24, 2012 at 4:01 am #

    your photography is so stunning! that looks like a delicious bowl of soba! yumm! the sauce sounds amazing!

  6. Foodie Stuntman June 24, 2012 at 8:47 am #

    You’re wwwaaaayyy better than Rachel Ray anyway. Looks delish!

  7. Abby June 24, 2012 at 8:08 pm #

    Yum! This beats take-out any night.

  8. Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen June 24, 2012 at 9:28 pm #

    Peanut noodles are one of my favorite quick meals to prepare! This version looks delicious!

  9. Laureen June 25, 2012 at 4:48 am #

    Hi, just discovered your blog, very nice, your pictures are amazing.

    • Willow June 25, 2012 at 1:29 pm #

      Thanks! Glad you like it. :)

  10. herbivoresheaven June 25, 2012 at 11:24 am #

    I rarely cook noodles, despite living in Asia – I think I might have to make an exception for these! They sound amazing!

  11. ally June 25, 2012 at 4:44 pm #

    incredible job here willow! loving the sound of your sauce paired simply with noodles & veg. my kind of meal!
    xo
    http://allykayler.blogspot.ca/

  12. Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes June 25, 2012 at 8:33 pm #

    You are a girl after my own heart – this is so my dish. I LOVE Soba noodles, the flavor of the noodles is addicting to say the least.

    Beautiful pics Willow- so Moody- can you get any more amazing?

    • Willow June 25, 2012 at 9:10 pm #

      Ha! “Moody” is my middle name… and it isn’t always a good thing. But I’m glad you like the photos, I’ve been really interested with playing around with light and dark. Definitely need some more practice, but I’m getting there!

    • Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes July 1, 2012 at 4:52 am #

      So funny me too! I love the darkness you can get from different angles of light & reflection….if you ask Justin moody is my middle name too – or overly sensitive, what can I say I’m a Cancer :)

  13. The Mom Chef June 26, 2012 at 8:16 pm #

    I swoon over the ginger/garlic combination in any food so this caught my eye immediately. I had no idea what soba noodles were and I confess that when I saw the top of that photo of them, I thought they were chop sticks bundled up. Then I scrolled enough to see the name and felt just a tad silly (but I do that to myself fairly often so I’m used to it).

    Anyhow. The bowl of noodles looks amazing. I love your sauce just as is, with peanut butter and all. Wow.

    • Willow June 27, 2012 at 1:06 pm #

      Heheh – you should definitely give soba noodles a try. If nothing else, they cook a lot faster than regular pasta!
      And same here – I grew up with my mother saying ‘you can never have too much garlic/ginger’. Always a good thing!

  14. Riley June 27, 2012 at 1:46 am #

    These pictures are beautiful. Those noodles look wonderful, too!

  15. Amy Pennington August 1, 2012 at 3:13 am #

    These are absolutely delicious! Everyone loved, my kids asked for 2nds…and then requested them for breakfast the next day! I left the hot sauce out so they would eat and added the siracha later, totally changed and enhanced the flavor…SO GOOD! Will be a go to recipe for sure! Thank you!

    • Willow August 3, 2012 at 2:39 pm #

      Wonderful, I’m so glad you enjoyed them! And kids can be the truest food critics sometimes, so what a big compliment to hear they liked it too. Thanks so much for telling me!

  16. Anonymous October 29, 2012 at 7:38 pm #

    I have also been cooking something very similar at my home with tofu and thai noodles. I suggest even trying a natural unsweetened crunchy peanut butter as that allows you to leave out the extra step of roasting peanuts :)

  17. Anonymous December 23, 2012 at 12:29 am #

    I wish I had added the sauce to the noodles instead of the other way around. I didn’t eyeball it correctly and there was WAY too much sauce for 9 oz of noodles. I would have made more noodles to even things out but didn’t have any. Next time I’ll cut the sauce in half. Otherwise it tastes great, just a little too saturated for my liking and nothing like your pictures.

    • Willow December 23, 2012 at 2:08 am #

      I’m glad you liked the flavor, but my apologies for the sauce to noodle ratio… I had the opposite issue, and considered thinning the sauce slightly as you can see in the photos it’s quite sticky on the noodles. Weird that there would be such a big variation, but good to know.

  18. Cheryl March 5, 2013 at 12:47 am #

    Hi. This is my first time trying one of your recipes. I have to say these noodles are fantastic!!! Definitely will be making it again. Thanks for sharing!

    • Willow March 5, 2013 at 2:16 pm #

      Yay! I’m so glad you liked them! :)

  19. kpsays August 24, 2013 at 2:05 am #

    Just made this for dinner! With some grilled chicken. Was delicious! Love your blog! Looking forward to trying other recipes!

  20. raju September 22, 2021 at 11:58 pm #

    Thanks For Sharing this amazing recipe. My family loved it. I will be sharing this recipe with my friends. Hope the will like it.

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