Recipes

Super Quick Peanut Butter Udon Noodles

9 September 2020

This is the meal you make when you are hungry, tired, and cannot be bothered to cook anything complicated. Ten minutes, one pan, and a handful of ingredients you probably already have. The peanut butter sauce is rich, savoury, and slightly spicy — it clings to thick udon noodles perfectly.

Ingredients

Serves 2

  • 300g udon noodles (fresh or dried)
  • 3 tablespoons peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha or chilli flakes (adjust to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 3-4 tablespoons hot water
  • Spring onions, sesame seeds, and crushed peanuts to garnish

Method

  1. Cook the udon noodles according to the packet instructions. If using fresh udon, this takes about 2 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  2. In a bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sriracha, sesame oil, and garlic. Add the hot water a tablespoon at a time until you get a smooth, pourable sauce.
  3. Toss the noodles in the sauce until evenly coated.
  4. Serve topped with sliced spring onions, sesame seeds, and crushed peanuts.

Variations

  • Add vegetables: Stir-fry pak choi, broccoli, or edamame and toss them in with the noodles.
  • Add protein: Crispy tofu cubes or pan-fried tempeh make this more substantial.
  • Use a different noodle: Ramen, soba, or even spaghetti work with this sauce.
  • Make it Thai-style: Add a squeeze of lime juice and swap sriracha for Thai sweet chilli sauce.

This costs about 80p per serving and takes less time than ordering a takeaway. For more quick vegan recipes, try our peanut satay stir-fry.