Now this is a recipe that I really love! I call it noodle-noodle. It is definitely a comfort food, full of creaminess and deliciousness but without the unhealthy fats, heavy cream or dairy. Lots of different textures, the noodles, raw vegetables and peanuts make it really unique and flavorful.
You can either use soba noodles that are the brown ones made from buckwheat or you can use rice noodles that are the flat white ones, both options are gluten free.
If that is a concern, due to autoimmune related diseases like; celiac disease, gluten allergies or gluten sensitivities this is a good option for you.
Both are starchy options though, so try to eat them for lunch rather than dinner and be mindful of your portions.
I have done this recipe with both kinds of noodles and prefer to use soba noodles, since they have more protein, I like their nutty flavor and we usually don’t consume buckwheat in our diets, so it adds variety of nutrients. Feel free to experiment and use the ones that you like the most and, depending where you are, are easiest to find.
Buckwheat is a grain-like seed and despite its name its not related to wheat, it is mainly a starch, but also has a high concentration of all essential amino acids, which makes it a good source of protein. Its rich in iron, zinc and selenium.
Peanuts are nut-like legumes that are also a great source of protein, they are high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats A.K.A. the healthy fats, that means that they help raise good cholesterol, lower bad cholesterol and along with folate (also highly present in peanuts) are essential for brain development and health. Heads up…that tip is for you pregnant mommies!
Ingredients
200 grams of soba noodles
1 cup red cabbage shredded
1 bunch of scallions (6-7 stalks) finely chopped
1/2 cup unsalted roasted peanuts chopped into small pieces
1/8 cup cilantro
Peanut sauce:
1/4 cup natural peanut butter unsalted
3 tablespoons of water
1 orange or 2 tangerines, juiced
2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce. I used Kikkoman Tamari Sauce. Remember: Regular tamari and soy sauce both contain gluten, so If you need to do this recipe gluten free it is important that you find a GF soy sauce like Kikkoman Gluten Free Soy Sauce
1 clove garlic, pressed or minced
1 piece of ginger (thumb size) I like to use the same garlic press to press the ginger and get all the flavor, but you can also grate it or mince it if you don’t have a press.
Cayenne pepper to taste
When buying for ingredients always read the labels, check the ingredient list and choose the ones with the least ingredients, make sure to that you can pronounce them, so we can steer away from additives and preservatives. Soba noodles should contain only buckwheat flour and water and the peanut butter should only contain roasted peanuts. If you have some extra time you can even make your own from scratch in a food processor.
Lets do it!
Noodles:
Bring water to a boil, place noodles in water and cook for 6 minutes stirring occasionally. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Sauce:
In a mixing bowl dissolve the peanut butter in water first and then add all of the remaining ingredients, mix slowly with a spoon until they are well blended.
Cut the vegetables and peanuts as directed.
Mix the noodles with the sauce and top with the cabbage, scallions, peanuts and cilantro. Enjoy!
Try it and tell me what you think ↓
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