Gluten-Free Thai Peanut Noodles
This Thai peanut noodles recipe is made with real peanuts instead of peanut butter, and you'll taste the difference! It also happens to be gluten-free.
- Preparation:
- Cooking:
- Total:
- Serves: 4 persons
Ingredients
- 8to 12 oz. rice noodles (linguini-width, enough for 2 to 4 people)
- Optional: 1 to 1 1/2 cups cubed firm tofu (or 2 chicken thighs, cut into small pieces)
- 3tablespoons soy sauce
- 3green onions (sliced)
- 2to 3 cups bean sprouts
- 1tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1to 3 teaspoons sesame oil
- ½cup fresh basil
- 2tbsp. vegetable oil (for stir-frying)
- Peanut Stir-Fry Sauce:
- ¾cup hot water
- 1teaspoon tamarind paste
- 1cup dry-roasted peanuts (unsalted)
- 3cloves garlic
- 1tablespoon soy sauce (use wheat-free soy sauce for gluten-free diets)
- 3to 4 tablespoon brown sugar (to taste)
- ½to 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
Step 1
Gather the ingredients.Step 2
Place cubed tofu or chicken (if using) in a bowl together with 3 tablespoons soy sauce. Stir to combine and set aside to marinate while you prepare the sauce.Step 3
Stir tamarind paste into the hot water until dissolved. Pour into your food processor or blender. Add all other sauce ingredients and pulse. Taste-test for sweetness and spice, adding more sugar or chili/cayenne if desired. Set aside.Step 4
Boil rice noodles to soften. Note: you still want them firm and too 'crunchy' to eat (firmer than ' al dente ). Drain and rinse well with cold water to stop the cooking process.Step 5
Warm a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons oil and swirl around, then add the tofu or chicken. Stir fry until lightly browned and cooked. Remove from heat and transfer to a clean bowl. Set aside.Step 6
Return wok/pan to heat and add 2 to 3 tablespoons more oil. Now add the noodles (you'll hear them sizzle as they hit the hot oil). Using two utensils and a lifting-turning motion, stir-fry 1 minute.Step 7
Add 1/3 to 1/2 of the peanut stir-fry sauce, plus the fried tofu or chicken (if using). Stir-fry until sauce is distributed throughout the noodles.Step 8
Add the bean sprouts plus a little more of the sauce. Stir-fry and taste-test as you go, adding more sauce until desired taste is achieved. Stir-fry until noodles are soft but still pleasantly chewy. Add more fish sauce if not salty or flavorful enough.Step 9
Top with a drizzle of sesame oil followed by a generous sprinkling of sesame seeds. Sprinkle over green onion and fresh basil. Enjoy!