Ode to the most popular seafood in the United States. Here is my Grilled Shrimp on the barbie with a Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce, your new favorite grilling recipe.
Shrimp is, by far, the most consumed seafood product in the United States. Shrimp is delicious, versatile, and better yet, easy to cook with! Below, I’ll review how to make grilled shrimp, the sauce, some pairings, and some nutritional information about shrimp!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
This recipe is great for meal prepping for the week. I like to grill the shrimp on the weekend and make extra for shrimp salads, grain bowls, and sandwiches!
I love to make this recipe when the weather is nice! I love to spend time outside, so if I can cook dinner outside that’s even better!
Tools
Metal skewers (wooden skewers work too) – if you don’t have skewers you can cook the shrimp on a grill pan or even in a cast iron skillet.
Tongs
Grill – charcoal grill or gas grill works
Serving platter
Ingredients
Shrimp – I use Wild Gulf Large or Jumbo Shrimp
Melted Butter – you could use olive oil
Spice mixture: Old bay seasoning, kosher salt, chili powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper. If you don’t have old bay seasoning a cajun seasoning will suffice.
Garlic cloves
Fresh Lemon Juice
Fresh Parsley
Optional Ingredients: Hot Sauce, red pepper flakes, lime juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, or even some lemon zest.
Step – By – Step Instructions
I usually like to keep a pound of raw shrimp in the freezer. Shrimp is super quick to thaw and easy to cook healthy recipes. From beginning to end, anyone can whip up a shrimp dinner in less than an hour.
Step 1: Prepping Shrimp
To thaw shrimp, take it out of the freezer and dump it into a large bowl. Place the bowl in the sink and run cold water over the shrimp. The shrimp will be thawed out in 15-20 min
Step 2: Cooking Shrimp
To cook this recipe you need a hot grill. Then, all you need to do is to skewer the shrimp and lay them on the grill. Flip the shrimp skewers halfway through and take them off when they are pink and curled in a “C” shape!
Enjoy the grilled shrimp alone, with my Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce, or with a delicious dip! Perhaps something creamy, BBQ-y, or spicy!
How to Make The Sauce
Okay, this is possibly the easiest sauce ever.
Microwave option: Add all the ingredients to a microwave-safe bowl and heat for a minute. Butter pops when melting in the microwave so make sure you cover your bowl!
Sharper Tip: I cover it with the paper wrapping my butter comes in.
Stove-top option: To make this sauce over the stove-top, add butter to the saucepan and melt over low heat. Once the butter is melted, add garlic salt, and pepper and continue to cook on medium-low heat for 5min. Cut the heat and your sauce is done!
Pairings with Grilled Shrimp with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
There are infinite possibilities of pairing this grilled shrimp with lemon garlic butter sauce. I like to make extra shrimp so I can make easy simple shrimp recipes during the week.
Plain alongside a delicious remoulade sauce: Think of this recipe as an easy homemade copycat Outback shrimp recipe.
Grilled Vegetables: I like grilled squash and peppers with my shrimp but any of your favorite veggies works! Potatoes in a foil pocket are delicious, crunchy, and creamy!
Air Fryer Potatoes: Include as many herbs as you would like. Once, I was eating pasta with a friend and they dumped almost the entire dried basil container in the sauce. Honestly, it was frickin’ good.
Rice: Shrimp and wild rice or white rice. Save a little of that garlic lemon butter and spoon it over top of your rice.
Salad: Eat this over top of a colorful green salad with a spritz from a lemon wedge. Some other great salad pairings include Yogurt Cilantro Lime Slaw or Greek Salad.
Beverages: Some great beverage pairings include a Frozen Strawberry Margarita, white wine, or my favorite, a Komchua Mocktail!
I LOVE Shrimp, But…
I love shrimp, I grew up eating shrimp on summer nights at the beach, but… from a sustainability point, I only enjoy shrimp every so often.
I’ve done some research into how to shop for sustainable shrimp and learned quite a bit!
When purchasing shrimp, stick with shrimp from North America, avoiding foreign imported shrimp. North American-caught shrimp is more likely to be caught sustainably. Specifically, Wild Gulf Shrimp is the best to buy due to its stricter management protocols. However, one 2014 report shows, that despite those stricter management protocols, the discard rate of other sea creatures from those shrimp trawls is still at 64%. You can also look for certifications like Monterey Bay’s Seafood Watch, Wild American Shrimp, or the Marine Stewardship Council.
Look for the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) label when purchasing Farm-Raised shrimp. The BAP makes sure the shrimp is raised without antibiotics and in the correct conditions to meet local environmental regulations.
Bottom Line:
Eat less shrimp and more sustainable seafood local to the region. For instance, purchasing from local fishermen and purchasing seafood like mussels, oysters, and clams can have a positive impact on our oceans and their ecosystems.
If you are interested in reading more about sustainable practices in the shrimp industry check out the references below.
Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Recipe
This is one of my favorites for fall – trader joe’s butternut squash mac and cheese recipe!
It’s that time of year! Let’s bring our favorites to the Thanksgiving table! Some of my favorite recipes include stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and creamy Butternut Squash Mac n’ Cheese.
Honestly, I could eat this Copycat Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese dish any time of year, but I especially love making it in October and November. Butternut Squash and winter squashes are so festive and fun in the fall, and they are delicious in this dish. Best of all, this pasta dish has a creamy sauce and is better than the frozen mac and cheese version from Trader Joe’s. I love how this recipe utilizes a kitchen blender to create a creamy and decadent sauce without loads of cheese rather it is filled with veggies!
Let me tell you how I make this recipe!
Butternut Squash Mac n’ Cheese Ingredients
Elbow Macaroni: I often opt for traditional macaroni for this recipe however, you can use a different short pasta shape such as penne, rigatoni, fusilli, farfalle, radiatori, or orecchiette.
Butternut Squash: I use a can of squash puree (for convenience) in this recipe but you can use fresh, homemade roasted butternut squash puree too.
The creamy squash is a flavorful and healthy addition to this sauce. It is loaded with nutrients like beta carotene (a precursor of Vitamin A). Squash also has a beautiful, golden-yellow color, excellent for this vibrant Mac n’ Cheese, and has a subtle sweetness I love.
*THE SECRET INGREDIENT* Riced Cauliflower: This is my secret ingredient!
You can’t taste the cauliflower with all the cheese, pasta, and squash flavors. Cauliflower helps to make the sauce creamy and comforting. It also gives the sauce its signature velvety smooth texture after blending.
Cheese: I use 2 different cheeses in this recipe.I wouldn’t say I like to use pre-shredded cheese rather I shred my cheese.
In this recipe, I use high-quality sharp cheddar. I usually add at least one more cheese addition to my casserole. You can try Mozzarella or Gouda, but for this recipe, I used Greyure. Greyure makes for a creamy rich sauce and I love how it mingles with the cheddar.
Other Ingredients
Onion
Butter
Whole Milk
Fresh Cracked Pepper
Garlic Powder
Mustard Powder
Step-By-Step Instructions
Cook the Pasta:
Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente.
Drain and set aside.
Cook the Vegetables:
In a large skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until softened about 5 minutes. Add the riced cauliflower. Cook another 5 min, stirring occasionally.
Make the Sauce:
Add the butternut squash puree and milk. Heat through, about 2 min. Remove from stove and turn off the heat. Add these ingredients to a blender with black pepper, garlic powder, and mustard powder. Blend until smooth.
Combine ingredients:
Pour the blended mixture back into the saucepan. Incorporate 4oz cheddar cheese and 1 oz gryere cheese. Add fresh cracked pepper to taste. Mix until the cheese is melted.
Note: The stove is off during this step, the cheese will melt from the heat of the puree.
Add cooked pasta to the sauce and stir to combine, ensuring all the pasta is well coated with sauce.
Pour the pasta mixture into a 9 x11 casserole pan.
Make Topping:
Mix Topping (1 oz gruyere, 2oz cheddar cheese, and panko bread crumbs).
Sprinkle with the panko/cheese topping overtop the macaroni and cheese mixture.
Bake and Serve
Bake at 350 uncovered for 30 minutes until heated through and the topping is browned and bubbly.
Once the mac and cheese is removed from the oven, let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
More Ingredients Additions to this Squash Mac n’ Cheese
What’s special about this Macaroni and Cheese recipe is its many variations. The cook can mix and match cheeses.
Cheeses: I refer to this article by Better Homes & Gardens to help with my cheese selection.
More Flavor: Another fun option? Add a spicy element such as Harissa, jalapenos, or other peppers.
Veggies: Use veggies such as spinach, green beans, brussels sprouts, and tomatoes to make this pasta more veggie-packed.
Pasta: Even the pasta can be changed up! Make the recipe gluten-free with some simple ingredient swaps like gluten-free macaroni.
1lbselbow macaroni or other short pastai.e. penne, rigatoni
1onion, diced
1 tbspbutter
1cupriced cauliflower
5fl. ozmilk1 can
15ozbutternut squash puree1 can
8ozcheddar cheese, grated and dividedsome for sauce and some for melting over top casserole
8ozgruyere cheese, grated and dividedsome for sauce and some for melting over top casserole
1tbsppanko bread crumbs
1tspgarlic powder
½tspfresh cracked pepper
½tspmustard powder
Instructions
Cook The Pasta
Cook your macaroni according to pasta box instruction until al dente.
Drain and set aside.
Cook the Vegetables:
In a large skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the riced cauliflower. Cook another 5 min, stirring occasionally.
Make The Sauce
Add the butternut squash puree and milk. Heat through, about 2 min. Remove from stove and turn off the heat. Add all ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth.
Combine ingredients
Pour the blended mixture back into the saucepan. Incorporate 6 oz cheddar cheese and 1 oz gryere cheese. Add fresh cracked pepper to taste. Mix until cheese is melted. Note: The stove is off during this step, the cheese will melt from the heat of the puree.
Add cooked pasta to the sauce and stir to combine, ansuring all the pasta is well coated with sauce.
Pour the pasta mixture to a 9 x11 casserole pan.
Make Topping
Make the topping, 2oz cheddar cheese, 1 oz greyure, and panko bread crumbs.
Sprinkle with the panko/cheese topping overtop the macaroni and cheese mixture.
Bake and Serve
Bake at 350 uncovered for 30 minutes until heated through and the topping is browned and bubbly.
Once removed from the ove,. let the macaroni and cheese rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
10 Ways to Use Trader Joe’s Thai Wheat Noodles in Recipes
Thai Wheat Noodles from Trader Joe’s are fully cooked, ready-to-eat, and shelf-stable noodles perfect for quick and easy cooking!
Why You Need To Try Trader Joe’s Thai Wheat Noodles
They are excellent for when you don’t feel like making a mess in the kitchen but want to have something nourishing, healthy, and delicious.
Because these noodles are preserved at room temperature, they are excellent in anything from stir fries to soups to your favorite power bowl with crispy tofu!
Below are 10 easy ways to make Trader Joe’s Thai Wheat Noodles!
Noodle Stir Fries
Thai Peanut Noodle Stir Fry
Peanut Noodle stir-fries are an excellent way to enjoy these noodles. Pair them with your favorite store-bought peanut sauce and veggies!
Alternatively, make your delicious peanut sauce! It is super easy and you can make it with less than 5 ingredients!
I love to top my Thai Peanut Noodle stir fry with Baked Tofu or a chili crisp fried egg.
Pad Thai Inspired Recipe
A Thai takeout fave, Pad Thai! Make your variation of Pad Thai with these thicker wheat noodles. Traditionally, Pad Thai is made with rice noodles, stir-fried with eggs, tofu, fish sauce, garlic, sugar, lime, and crushed peanuts.
Make a Pad Thai-inspired dish right at home with veggies like bean sprouts, bell peppers, onions, and your favorite protein of choice. I like to make a quick pad Thai sauce with fish sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and sriracha!
Make an egg free Pad Thai by using a silken tofu scramble to replace the scrambled eggs!
Thai Noodle Curries
Red or Green Curry
I love to make a Thai Curry full of vegetables and tofu. I’ll make the curry and often serve it with rice. You can easily swap out the rice and enjoy a delicious Red or Green Curry dish with Thai Wheat Noodles.
Massaman Curry
One of my favorite Thai curries is Massaman curry. It is spicy, salty, sour, and sweet! This creamy curry is made with coconut milk and infused with spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and cumin.
Massaman curry is excellent as a warm and cozy meal. While traditionally served with chicken, I love adding tofu or even lentils. Opt for Thai wheat noodles instead of rice for a twist on this Thai Curry dish!
Thai Wheat Noodle Soups
Chicken Noodle Soup
Thai Wheat Noodles make for a fun variation of chicken noodle soup.
Just take your favorite chicken noodle soup recipe and exchange the noodles for Thai wheat noodles.
Coconut Curry Noodle Soup
Change things up and make the chicken noodle soup a Thai-inspired Coconut Curry Noodle soup.
To make this, add lots of thinly sliced onion, ginger, garlic, mushrooms, red or green curry paste, coconut milk, and freshly squeezed lime!
Other Ideas for Trader Joe’s Thai Wheat Noodles
Noodle Power Bowl
Make a delicious and healthy power bowl by layering the Thai wheat noodles with lots of chopped spinach or other leafy green, chopped veggies, and your favorite salad dressing.
Change up your spring rolls recipe by swapping the vermicelli noodles with Thai wheat noodles! Prepare them just like you would Vietnamese spring rolls, also referred to as salad rolls. You can use Nuoc Cham sauce as a dipping sauce or I love to use Peanut Sauce.
Maybe my favorite way to use these noodles is in lettuce cups! Cheesecake Factory makes amazing Thai Lettuce Wraps, but they use egg noodles. Recreate them at home and use Thai wheat noodles instead! You can have dipping sauces like hoisin, chili oil, or peanut sauce. Just cut iceberg lettuce in half and chop up your favorite add-ins like peanuts, bean sprouts, green onions, red pepper, shredded carrots, shredded chicken or baked tofu, and, of course, Thai wheat noodles.
Have a blast mixing and matching ingredients to make individualized Spring Rolls and Thai Lettuce Wraps.
Like These Recipes? Check Out More Recipe Round Ups!
This Trader Joe’s Thai Wheat Noodles recipe is nutritious, delicious, and ready in under 30 minutes! The perfect weeknight meal for when you don’t feel like making a mess in the kitchen.
What are Trader Joe’s Thai Wheat Noodles?
Trader Joe’s Thai Wheat Noodles are fully cooked, ready-to-eat, and shelf-stable wheat noodles. One package contains three ready-to-use noodle packages located in the Trader Joe’s grocery aisle near ramen and other noodles.
Per Trader Joe’s website, they are made from scratch by a supplier in Thailand. These noodles are soft, chewy, and delicious.
Because they are preserved at room temperature, they are excellent in anything from soups to curries to stir-fries.
Ingredients in this Trader Joe’s Thai Wheat Noodles Recipe
This recipe comes together in a flash! The stir fry only requires 5 ingredients not including the sauce.
Trader Joe’s Thai Wheat Noodles:
You could sub for another noodle of choice such as udon, soba, rice noodles, or even linguini.
Vegetables:
Feel free to customize this selection of veggies to suit your preferences or whatever you have available!
Red Bell Peppers
Onions
Green Onions
Cilantro
Easy Peanut Sauce:
This peanut sauce recipe comes together effortlessly and quickly.
Peanut Butter
Hoisin
Soy Sauce
Rice Vinegar – (lime juice would be excellent as well)
Ginger
Garlic
Step – By – Step Instructions
Delicious Peanut Sauce
In a small saucepan over low heat, whisk together peanut butter, hoisin, soy sauce, rice vinegar, grated ginger, and garlic until smooth.
Gradually add water, 1 tbsp at a time, stirring continuously until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. Set aside.
Prepare the Noodles
Prepare the noodles according to the package instructions.
Stir-Fry the Vegetables
Heat avocado oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
Add minced onions and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
Add sliced red bell pepper to the skillet.
Stir-fry the vegetables for 3-4 minutes until they are tender-crisp.
Combine Everything
Add cooked noodles to the skillet with the stir-fried vegetables.
Pour the prepared peanut sauce over the noodles and vegetables.
Toss everything together until well coated and heated through about 2-3 minutes.
Serve
Transfer the stir-fried noodles and vegetables to serving plates.
Garnish with lime wedges, chopped green onions, and fresh cilantro.
Serve hot and enjoy your stir-fried Thai Wheat Noodles with Peanut Sauce!
Other Flavor Variations for this Peanut Noodles Recipe
Change up the Noodles
You can use fresh noodles, egg noodles, ramen noodles, rice noodles, Banza Protein+ spaghetti.
Make It Spicy Noodles
Add in any of the following, Sambal Olek, Sriracha, chili oil, red pepper, or Chili Crisp for a spicy sauce.
Make It Sesame Noodles
For more sesame flavor, omit the peanut butter and use tahini, drizzle toasted sesame oil to finish this dish.
Change up the Veggies
Use your favorite combination of vegetables, or use what you have on hand.
More Ways To Use Trader Joe’s Thai Wheat Noodles
The best part about Trader Joe’s Thai Wheat Noodles is their versatility in recipes. You can use them in soup, stir fry, or curry!
You could even make a variation of pad Thai using these noodles. Rather than rice noodles, use these wheat noodles. Then add a chili-fried egg over top for a delicious pad Thai-inspired recipe!
These Thai Wheat Noodles are Dietitian Approved! I love them for a variety of reasons. Check out my article all about the benefits of these noodles.
FAQ (Ask A Dietitian)
How do you cook wheat noodles?
These noodles are already fully cooked, shelf-stable, and ready to eat! Depending on the dish, you might prepare these noodles slightly differently. Check out my article 10 Easy Trader Joe’s What Wheat Noodles Recipes for more info on how to make these noodles in 10 different dishes!
Are wheat noodles healthy for you?
Cooking wheat noodles in a dish with lean protein, vegetables, fiber, and healthy fats, is healthy for you!
This Peanut Noodle recipe includes all of these things!
How long do these leftovers last in the refrigerator?
These noodle leftovers will last about 3 days in the refrigerator.
These Jalapeno Pickled Eggs are one of my favorite eggs recipe and I always have a jar on hand. Moreover, not only are these Jalapeno Pickled Eggs delicious, but they can be prepped, cooked, and finished in under an hour.
These quick pickled eggs serve as the perfect snack option or can elevate a main course meal like salads, ramen noodle soup, or even jazz up avocado toast with some of those pickled jalapeno slices and jalapeno hard-boiled eggs.
Below, I’ll discuss the ingredients, preparation, and cooking, how to utilize pickled eggs, and how to shop for eggs; one of my favorite low-cost proteins.
The Ingredients in Jalapeno Pickled Eggs
Large Eggs: I use peeled hard boiled eggs. The eggs can be prepped and cooked in 30min from start to finish in an instapot!
Alternatively, you could make jalapeno quail pickled eggs. Just swap the hard-boiled peeled chicken eggs for quail eggs! You won’t be able to find those in any grocery store!
Fresh Jalapeno: The jalapenos add flavor without being overly spicy. Add as many or as few as you desire – more jalapenos means more spicy flavors! IMO the best pickled eggs are spicy!
White Vinegar: I use white distilled vinegar in this recipe. Option to include other vinegars in the vinegar mixture such as apple cider vinegar, champagne vinegar, or even black vinegar.
Water: I use a 3:1 ratio of vinegar to water tp make this pickling liquid.
Salt and/or sugar: Depending on the flavors you enjoy, you can add some salt or sugar, but they are not required. I love to add honey to my Jalapeno Picked Eggs. Some other flavor profiles that would pair well with pickled eggs include garlic, peppercorns, fresh or dried dill, onion, and red pepper.
Optional Ingredients: Mustard seeds, black peppercorns, garlic cloves salt, honey, jalapeno juice, chili flakes, turmeric, and beets. Want to make this recipe even more “green-like” add some blanched green beans!
Egg Colors: Yellow and Pink
For a beautiful golden hue, add 1/8 tsp of turmeric. This also provides earthy turmeric flavors.
For a pink or purple hue, add a chunk of a canned or roasted beet directly into the jar with your eggs. The larger the beet chunk the deeper the color. Alternatively, you could add some beet juice to your spicy pickled eggs.
How to Make Jalapeno Pickled Eggs in four easy steps
1) Cook Hard Cooked Eggs
There are three ways I like to make hard-cooked eggs: boiled, baked, and in a pressure cooker. Follow the links below for more details on how to make hard-cooked eggs.
To help peel your hard-cooked eggs, plunge the hot eggs into an ice bath immediately after cooking. Wait 2 to 3 minutes before handling. Warning: the eggs may be hot!
Crack the eggshell. Rolling can help crack the eggshell, but be careful because this can break or tear the egg, especially if it’s softer cooked.
Plunge the egg into the water bath used to cool the hot eggs. The water will assist in loosening the shell.
Peel from the largest end of the egg. There is often an air pocket on the larger end that make peeling easier.
3) Create the Brine in 2 simple steps
First, combine water and vinegar in a 1:3 ratio (1 cup of water to 3 cups of vinegar). Second, if adding honey or sugar you may want to dissolve the sugar in the vinegar-water mixture either by bringing the liquid to a boil on the stovetop or microwave. However, heating the brine is not required. I recommend bringing the brine to room temp before adding it to your cooked eggs.
4) Pickle the Eggs
In a 32oz sterile mason jar (or container with a lid) place 10 to 12 hard-cooked eggs. Then add your sliced jalapenos. Lastly, the brine over the hard-cooked eggs. You will likely have some leftover liquid you can use for a small batch of another pickled item (like red onion, more jalapenos, or cucumbers). Store the sealed container in the refrigerator for at least 72hrs.
How long do you let picked eggs sit before eating?
TheNational Center for Home Food Preservation suggests storing eggs in the refrigerator at all times. Medium eggs may require 2 to 4 weeks to be well seasoned but the hardest part about this recipe is waiting that long! Use the eggs within 3 to 4 months for the best quality.
Pickled Eggs and How to Use This Egg Recipe
Maybe you haven’t seen many pickled eggs sold in grocery stores or restaurants but, in Pennsylvania for instance, pickled beet eggs are very pretty popular, especially around Easter. You might even find a jar of pickled beet eggs presented in rural PA bars. There are endless ways to add eggs, and picked eggs to other recipes but find some of my favorites below.
My favorite ways to use picked eggs include:
As a salad topper
Addition to charcuterie boards
Served over avocado toast
A snack (season with salt and pepper)
In an egg salad (the picked aspect will bring even more flavor)
Used when making deviled eggs
And one of my favorites, as a Ramen topper
Understanding Egg labels
Egg labeling is complicated. There are many terms used in egg labeling that are somewhat misleading, for instance, cage-free. The term cage-free doesn’t have much meaning behind it.
Below are some meaningful labels to look out for:
Animal Welfare Approved
Certified Humane
Global Animal Partnership Steps 3.4.5 and Step 5+
SDA Organic
More Resources
Curious to dive deeper into the food label guide to choosing eggs? Check out these resources below.
I hope this recipe post provided some valuable information about the world of pickled eggs. Pickling is a culinary adventure I hope you decide to try if you have not already.
Enjoy this article, below are a few others you may enjoy.
This pickled egg recipe is super easy and has a kick! Jalapeno Picked Eggs are the perfect ramen topped, salad addition, or simple and high protein snack!
Combine water and vinegar in a 1:3 ratio (1 cup of water to 3 cups of vinegar). If adding honey or sugar, you may want to dissolve the sugar in the vinegar-water mixture either by bringing the liquid to a simmer on the stovetop or microwave. However, heating the brine is not required and I recommend bringing the brine to room temp before adding it to your cooked eggs.
Pickle the Eggs
In a 32oz mason sterile jar or container with a lid place 10 to 12 hard cook eggs. Then add sliced jalapenos. Lastly, pour in the brine. You will likely have some leftover liquid you can use for a small batch of something pickled (like red onion, more jalapenos, or cucumbers). Store the sealed container in the refrigerator for at least 72hrs.
Ever crave a big ole’ bowl of noodles? I sure do. Noodles are my favorite food. I don’t make such a statement lightly. There is something about the mouthfeel of noodles, so smooth and chewy, that is just so comforting.
Why I Love This Rice Noodle with Spicy Tahini Stir Fry Sauce Recipe
I love this recipe because, it’s a quick, easy, and healthy noodle recipe but also super delicious. The Tahini Sauce is a perfect complement. It creates a velvety, nutty flavor and aroma.
Many of my noodle dishes are inspired by other marvelous dishes. This dish is inspired by Thai peanut noodles and Dan Dan noodles some of my favorite noodle slurping dishes!
Ingredients
Noodles: I use rice noodles in this dish. Noodles come in many widths and sizes. Some Noodles are thin like vermicelli or round and wide like udon. I recommend using a Pad Thai style, which is known for its dried, flat, and wide noodles. Here is one noodle I like to use, from the Thai kitchen.
Veggies: You can get creative with veggies for this recipe. I chose carrots, bell peppers, and jalapenos. I love carrots in a warm and cozy noodle dish. The jalapenos and green bell peppers also pair nicely.
Some other veggie variations to try:
Broccoli, napa cabbage, onion
Celery, carrot, snow peas
Edamame, red cabbage, cauliflower
Spicy: As always, spiciness is optional because it is not for everyone. But hey, this is a Spicy Tahini Noodle recipe! You could omit the spicy element and bump up the flavor with some garlic too.
Protein: Go ahead and use your favorite protein in this noodle dish. I chose a yummy, yet spicy, homemade jalapeno-picked egg. Keep things vegan by topping this recipe with some Baked Tofu.
Tahini Sauce: I make noodles so often that I have tried hundreds of combinations and ratios of ingredients. Due to my long history of noodle adventures, I usually eyeball the sauce, give it a taste, and adjust the ingredients as needed. However, if you need a blueprint, no worries! This combination (written in the recipe at the bottom of this post) will leave you blown away.
Garnish: A garnish can transform any dish into a work of art. When considering the following elements, color, taste, texture, and nutrition garnishes are not something that is thrown aside! In this recipe, I garnish with sesame seeds, green onion, and basil. But technically the egg is a garnish too!
Other garnish ideas include a wedge of lime or freshly squeezed lime juice, black pepper, a drizzle of maple syrup, a splash of soy sauce, or even an extra drizzle of creamy sauce.
How To Make This Recipe
A standout feature of noodle recipes is the ease of its creation. Check out my instructions below.
To make Spicy Tahini Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients. Adjust the spice level and sweetness according to your preference.
Cook The Noodles
Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions, then drain and set aside.
Sauté Aromatics
Heat avocado oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and ginger, and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Stir-Fry Vegetables
Add the carrot, bell peppers, jalapeno, and scallions to the pan. Stir-fry the vegetables for 3-5 minutes until they are crisp-tender.
Pour the spicy tahini stir fry sauce over the vegetables and toss until well coated.
Add Sauce and Noodles
Add the cooked rice noodles to the pan and gently toss everything together until the noodles are evenly coated with the sauce and the vegetables are distributed throughout.
Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the noodles are heated through.
Garnish and Serve
Remove the pan from the heat and add the desired garnish. Serve immediately.
Sharper Nutrition Fix: Tahini
What is Tahini?
Tahini is a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking. It is similar to peanut butter but instead of grounding peanuts to a pulp (or butter), it is made from ground sesame seeds. In tahini, the sesame seeds are toasted, ground, and finally emulsified with oil, creating a smooth and creamy consistency.
Tahini has its own wonderful flavor, much like a nutty earthy nut or seed butter. If you don’t have tahini for a recipe, you may be able to substitute a nut or seed butter along with some sesame oil.
Tahini is a major ingredient in a very popular snack food, hummus! Some other culinary uses for tahini include salad dressings, dips (such as hummus or baba ghanoush), used as a condiment, in a baked good (like cake), stirred into a soup, sauce, or smoothie, or you might also want to drizzle over some chickpeas or falafel.
If you want to learn more about how to use tahini in your kitchen check out these articles by Serious Eats, and Bon Appetit.
In a small bowl, whisk together sauce ingredients. Adjust the spice level and sweetness according to your preference.
Cook The Noodles
Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions, then drain and set aside.
Sauté Aromatics
Heat avocado oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and grated ginger, sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Stir-Fry Vegetables
Add the carrot, bell peppers, jalapeno, and scallions to the pan. Stir-fry the vegetables for 3-5 minutes until they are crisp-tender.
Pour the spicy tahini stir fry sauce over the vegetables and toss until well coated.
Add Sauce and Noodles
Add the cooked rice noodles to the pan and gently toss everything together until the noodles are evenly coated with the sauce and the vegetables are distributed throughout.
Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the noodles are heated through.
Garnish and Serve
Remove the pan from the heat and add the desired garnish. Serve immediately.
