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Spicy Asian Ramen Noodles

I admit it, I still love ramen. In this yummy recipe, expect fast, easy, and spicy with salty, sweet, and sour flavors kicking in. The spiciness level can be adapted to your taste by adjusting the chili garlic sauce. This will make 4 side servings or 3 hearty main course servings.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine asian
Servings 3 people
Calories 1470.6 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Medium Pot For boiling noodles
  • 1 Small Mixing Bowl For preparing the sauce
  • 1 Whisk To combine sauce ingredients
  • 1 Colander For draining cooked noodles
  • 1 Chef's knife For preparing garnishes and ginger

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons chili-garlic sauce or more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
  • 2 3 ounce packages ramen noodles
  • 2 tablespoons chopped peanuts
  • 2 medium green onions thinly sliced diagonally

Instructions
 

  • Whisk soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce, and ginger together in a small bowl. Add peanut butter, whisking until well combined, and set aside.
  • Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a pot. Discard the flavor packet and add ramen noodles to the boiling water. Cook until noodles are tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain noodles, reserving some of the noodle water in case you need to thin out the sauce later.
  • Pour sauce over ramen noodles, tossing until well coated. If sauce is too thick, thin out with a small amount of the reserved noodle water until you reach your desired consistency. Your hot noodles will soak up the sauce. Garnish with peanuts and green onion, and serve.

Notes

1. For the sauce, ensure the peanut butter is well incorporated. If it's too thick, a splash of warm reserved noodle water can help emulsify it.2. The quality of fresh ginger makes a significant difference; grate it finely for even distribution and intense flavor.3. Don't overcook the ramen noodles; they should still have a slight chew (al dente) as they will continue to absorb sauce after draining.4. Enhance with blanched vegetables like bok choy or snap peas, or a protein like seared tofu, chicken, or a fried egg for a more complete meal.5. Toasted sesame seeds or a squeeze of fresh lime juice can elevate the aroma and brightness of the dish. Adjust chili-garlic sauce gradually to taste.