Asian Peanut Noodle Bowl (Printable)

Tender noodles with crisp vegetables in a creamy peanut dressing. Enjoy this vibrant bowl cold or warm for any meal.

# What You Need:

→ Noodles

01 - 10 oz rice noodles or wheat noodles

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
03 - 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
04 - 2.8 oz shredded red cabbage
05 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
06 - 0.5 cup fresh cilantro leaves
07 - 0.5 cup bean sprouts

→ Peanut Dressing

08 - 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
09 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
10 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
11 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
12 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
13 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
14 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
15 - 2 to 4 tablespoons warm water, as needed

→ Toppings

16 - 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
17 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
18 - Lime wedges, for serving

# How To Make:

01 - Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water until completely cooled. Set aside.
02 - In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey or maple syrup, grated ginger, and minced garlic. Gradually whisk in warm water in small increments until the dressing reaches a smooth, pourable consistency.
03 - Transfer the cooled noodles to a large mixing bowl. Add the julienned carrot, sliced bell pepper, shredded cabbage, scallions, cilantro, and bean sprouts. Mix gently to combine all components.
04 - Pour the prepared peanut dressing over the noodle and vegetable mixture. Toss thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
05 - Divide the dressed noodle bowl evenly among serving plates. Crown each portion with chopped roasted peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, and additional fresh cilantro if desired.
06 - Accompany each bowl with lime wedges on the side. Serve immediately at room temperature or gently warmed, allowing each diner to adjust seasoning with lime juice to taste.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes, which means you can actually make it on a weeknight without stress.
  • The dressing is genuinely addictive—that balance of creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet keeps you coming back for more bites.
  • You can eat it cold straight from the fridge or gently warm it up depending on your mood and the weather.
  • It's endlessly customizable, so you can throw in whatever vegetables or proteins you have on hand and it still works beautifully.
02 -
  • Don't let your dressing be too thick—it should be able to coat the noodles evenly and drip slightly when you toss, so add water gradually and stop before you think you need to.
  • Rinse your cooked noodles thoroughly under cold water, not just a quick pass; this stops them from cooking further and removes excess starch so they stay separate and silky instead of glueing together.
  • The vegetables lose their crunch over time once they're coated in dressing, so if you're making this ahead of time, keep the vegetables separate and only toss everything together a few minutes before eating.
03 -
  • Make extra dressing and keep it in a jar in the fridge—it gets even better after a day and you can drizzle it over anything, from roasted vegetables to grilled chicken.
  • If your peanut butter is the natural kind that separates, mix it with a fork before measuring so you get the right ratio of peanut solids to oil, otherwise your dressing will be grainier than you want.
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