Spicy Asian Peanut Pasta Food

ORIENTAL SPAGHETTI WITH CUCUMBER AND SPICY PEANUT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a blender blend the peanut butter, the soy sauce, the lemon juice, the garlic, the red hot pepper flakes, the sugar, and 1/4 cup hot water until the sauce is smooth. In a kettle of boiling salted water boil the spaghetti until it is just tender, drain it in a colander, and rinse it briefly under cold water. Drain the spaghetti well, transfer it to a bowl, and toss it with the sauce, the cucumber, the scallion, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve the pasta at room temperature.

SPICY ASIAN PASTA SALAD WITH PEANUTS

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until only JUST firm-tender; drain VERY well, and transfer to a large bowl.
• In a bowl whisk together 5 tablespoons sesame oil, honey, soy sauce, vinegar and cayenne pepper; blend well, and season with salt to taste.
• Mix half of the dressing into the pasta; toss well to coat.
• Cover the pasta and chill for 2 hours (or more).
• In a skillet heat the remaining tablespoon of sesame oil over high heat.
• Add in beans and onions; saute until JUST beginning to wilt (about 2 minutes).
• Add in the beans and onions, red bell peppers with the chopped peanuts to the cold pasta.
• Add a little more dressing to coat, and season with black pepper if desired.
• Pass the remaining dressing separately.

THAI NOODLES WITH SPICY PEANUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package directions.
• Drain and return to pot.
• Add 2 TBSP sesame oil and toss to coat.
• Set aside.
• Heat remaining 2 TBSP sesame oil in heavy pot over medium-high heat.
• Add green onions, carrots, stir-fry veggies, garlic and ginger.
• Saute until vegetables soften, about 4 minutes.
• Add honey, peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar and chili-garlic sauce and mix well.
• Simmer sauce 2 minutes.
• Pour sauce over pasta and toss well.
• Transfer to platter and serve warm.
• Garnish with additional green onions, if desired.
• Yields 8 side dish servings or 4 main dish servings.
• **Chili-Garlicsauce can be increased or decreased depending on how spicy you like your dish.
• As written, this recipe has some heat, but is still edible for my toddler son.

SPICY SESAME NOODLES WITH CHOPPED PEANUTS AND THAI BASIL

Steps:

• Heat peanut oil in small skillet over medium heat. Add ginger and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Transfer to large bowl. Add next 6 ingredients; whisk to blend.
• Place noodles in sieve over sink. Separate noodles with fingers and shake to remove excess starch. Cook in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, stirring occasionally. Drain and rinse under cold water until cool. Drain thoroughly and transfer to bowl with sauce. Add sliced green onions and toss to coat noodles. Let stand at room temperature until noodles have absorbed dressing, tossing occasionally, about 1 hour. Stir in peanuts and Thai basil; toss again. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature.

SPICY SZECHUAN PEANUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth.
• Transfer to a jar with a tight-fitting lid (keeps 1 week, chilled; or distribute among 3 small containers and freeze what you don’t want to use within a week).
• To use: Boil 1 lb Asian noodles or spaghetti until al dente.
• Toss with ¾ cup of sauce (or more to taste), finely chopped scallions and chopped peanuts.
• Note: In the winter, I eat these noodles hot.
• In summer I rinse under cold water, cool and drain and serve them as a spicy noodle salad, often adding shredded bok choy, carrots, snowpeas, lots more of the peanut sauce, etc.

THAI PASTA WITH SPICY PEANUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook linguine according to package directions. Drain; return to pan., In a small bowl, combine peanut sauce and lime juice. Add peanut sauce mixture, vegetables and cilantro to pan; toss to coat.

SPICY THAI PEANUT NOODLES

Steps:

• Whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, Thai chiles, chile-garlic sauce, ginger, fish sauce, and pepper in a bowl until smooth. Set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large wok or non-stick pan over high heat. Add chicken and stir constantly until almost cooked, about 3 minutes. Pour in 1/4 cup sauce mixture to chicken. Cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer chicken with its juices to a bowl.
• Reduce heat to medium-high. Heat remaining tablespoon olive oil in the same wok or pan used for chicken. Add carrots; cook and stir until just softened but still crunchy, about 3 minutes. Stir in bell pepper; cook until softened, about 1 minute. Add reserved chicken with its juices, remaining sauce, green onions, bean sprouts, and cilantro. Cook and stir until just heated, about 1 minute. Keep warm.
• Meanwhile place noodles in a large bowl and cover with hot water. Set aside until noodles are softened, about 5 minutes. Drain.
• Stir cooked noodles into vegetable mixture. Garnish with peanuts.