Instant Peanut Thai Noodles (View Print Version)

Creamy peanut and chili sauce tossed with noodles for a quick Thai-inspired meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Noodles

01 - 2 packs instant ramen noodles (discard seasoning packets)

→ Sauce

02 - 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon chili crisp (adjust for spice preference)
05 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
06 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
07 - 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
08 - 1 garlic clove, minced
09 - 3 to 4 tablespoons hot water (to thin sauce as needed)

→ Toppings (optional)

10 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
11 - 1 tablespoon roasted peanuts, chopped
12 - 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
13 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
14 - Lime wedges

# Method:

01 - Prepare the ramen noodles following package instructions; drain, reserving 2 to 3 tablespoons of cooking water.
02 - In a medium mixing bowl, whisk peanut butter, soy sauce, chili crisp, rice vinegar, honey, toasted sesame oil, and minced garlic. Gradually stir in reserved noodle water or hot water, one tablespoon at a time, until the sauce attains a smooth, pourable consistency.
03 - Toss the cooked noodles thoroughly in the sauce to ensure even coating.
04 - Divide noodles evenly between two serving bowls. Garnish with scallions, chopped peanuts, sesame seeds, cilantro, and lime wedges as desired.
05 - Serve immediately to enjoy optimal flavors and texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than delivery arrives, and tastes like you actually tried.
  • The sauce is genuinely silky and layered, not thin or one-note like basic instant ramen.
  • You probably have most of the ingredients already, which is its own kind of magic on a random Tuesday.
02 -
  • Don't skip whisking the sauce properly—when the peanut butter and liquid actually emulsify, the sauce becomes creamy instead of separated and oily.
  • The starch in noodle cooking water is your secret weapon; it helps the sauce cling instead of pooling at the bottom of the bowl.
  • Taste the sauce before you mix it with the noodles and adjust—the chili crisp heat really depends on the brand you buy.
03 -
  • Mince your garlic fine and let it sit in the peanut butter for a minute before whisking—it distributes the flavor more evenly.
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes if you have time; the difference in flavor is genuinely surprising.
  • Keep a bottle of chili crisp in your pantry at all times—it'll change how you approach at least ten other meals once you have it.
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