Zesty Peanut Zucchini Noodles (Printable view)

Zucchini spirals coated in tangy peanut sauce with bell pepper, carrots, and fresh herbs for a bright dish.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 4 medium zucchini, spiralized
02 - 1 cup shredded carrots
03 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
04 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
05 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
06 - 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, chopped (plus extra for garnish)

→ Peanut Sauce

07 - 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter, natural and unsweetened preferred
08 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free
09 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
11 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
13 - 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili garlic sauce, optional
14 - 2 to 4 tablespoons warm water, to thin sauce

→ Garnish

15 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
16 - Lime wedges

# How To Make:

01 - Place spiralized zucchini, shredded carrots, sliced red bell pepper, scallions, and chopped cilantro in a large mixing bowl.
02 - Whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, lime juice, sriracha if using, and 2 tablespoons warm water until smooth. Add more water as needed to achieve a pourable consistency.
03 - Pour peanut sauce over the vegetable mixture and toss thoroughly to evenly coat all ingredients.
04 - Incorporate chopped peanuts into the salad and toss gently to combine.
05 - Transfer mixture to serving bowls or a platter. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, extra chopped peanuts, and garnish with lime wedges and additional cilantro as desired.
06 - Serve immediately as a refreshing cold salad or chill for 20 to 30 minutes to enhance flavors.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under twenty minutes, no stove required, which means you can make it even when the kitchen feels like a sauna.
  • The peanut sauce is creamy and tangy with just enough kick, and it clings to every ribbon of zucchini like it was made for this.
  • You can eat it straight away or let it chill, and somehow it tastes even better after sitting in the fridge for half an hour.
02 -
  • If you make the salad ahead of time, the zucchini will release water as it sits, so drain off any excess liquid before serving or the sauce will get watery and sad.
  • The sauce thickens as it sits, so if you're meal prepping, keep a little extra warm water on hand to loosen it up again before you toss it with the noodles.
03 -
  • Pat the zucchini noodles dry with a clean towel after spiralizing them, it keeps the sauce from getting diluted and makes the whole dish taste more vibrant.
  • Taste the peanut sauce before you toss it with the vegetables and adjust the lime, honey, or sriracha until it's exactly how you want it, because once it's mixed in, there's no going back.
Go Back