Sunday, August 24, 2008

Peanut Butter Pasta


I am happy to spend hours in the kitchen doing anything involving baking, but when it comes to cooking an actual meal, most of the time I prefer something fast, simple and healthy. I do love trying out new cooking recipes but there's only so much time and I find baking so much more rewarding and exciting. So this is an example of one of those easy and healthy meals. The peanuts in the sauce are protein and you can always add some beans, tofu or more nuts to the dish for more protein (though this dish was really filling just with the sauce). You can add as many veggies as you want, and this is a great place to use a mix of frozen vegetables. The Garden of Vegan suggests using this as a pasta sauce, as I did, but I'm sure it would be equally delicious (and easy) with your choice of grain (brown rice, quinoa, millet, etc). You could also try this recipe with your favourite nut butter.

Other easy and healthy meals:
Pasta with Tofu Red Pepper Sauce
Spinach Walnut Pesto
Artichoke Rotini Pasta
Pasta with Portobello Mushrooms in Mustard Wine Sauce

Peanut Butter Pasta
Adapted from The Garden of Vegan

Makes 2-3 servings.

Dry pasta (enough for 2 people)
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
1/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup soy milk or coconut milk (or more water)
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp steak sauce or vegan worcestershire sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp cayenne (more if you like it spicy)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
3-4 cups veggies (broccoli, bell peppers, edamame, carrots, peas, corn, etc), cut into bite size pieces
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Cook the pasta. While the pasta is cooking, whisk together the peanut butter, hot water, and milk (soy, coconut, rice - if using) until smooth. Stir in the soy sauce, steak sauce/worcestershire, garlic, cayenne, salt and pepper. When pasta is almost done, add vegetables and cook for another couple of minutes. Drain and return to pot. Pour in the peanut sauce and toss well. Garnish with chopped nuts, if using.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love it. One can never have too much PB! And baked good or not, your photos are gorgeous. :)

Anonymous said...

This looks so pretty and delicious! I bet the peanut flavor in here tastes really good. I love the addition of all the veggies!

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

I know I would love this. I made a similar sauce for noodles recently and it is a really delicious combination of flavours :)

Beth (jamandcream) said...

I love satay so Im sure this would go down a treat. Delicious!!

grace said...

peanut butter is a miracle food, is it not? this sounds amazing.

Anonymous said...

Peanut noodles rock! I make them all the time, in various ways, so I'll have to try out your version next time. :)

Usha said...

Looks delicious...I have tried a variation of this sauce without the soy milk and loved it....would love to try this soon :)

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

Yesterday I was reading my Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home and I stopped at a pasta recipe with peanut butter. It's called: African Pineapple Peanut Stew. If you want the recipe, email me. As always I love your pictures. This makes me want to try the dish.

Carla said...

I actually made something very similar to this a long time ago. I should definitely make it again!

Snooky doodle said...

I love peanut butter. Never tried it with pasta though but i m sure it really tastes good since i adore chicken satay and anything with peanut butter. Really like the photo it shows all the creaminess of the peanut butter :-)

Nicole said...

Not only is the photo fabulous, the recipe sounds so good! I love anything with peanut butter.

Anonymous said...

i am the same way, i can spend hours baking. but when comes to actual meals, the quicker the better. thanks for a great recipe. fantastic photo!

Sarah said...

Yum! This looks delicious. It's only morning & already I'm salivating over dinner. :)

Maria said...

I am a sucker for PB but my husband is allergic. I will make this pasta for me and the key lime pie for him..of course I will snag a piece of that too!

Deborah said...

I'm also about quick and easy most of the time, and this sounds fantastic!

Sara said...

Oh yum! This looks fantastic! I'm a PB addict and I'll definately need to try this recipe. :)

test it comm said...

Spicy peanut butter pasta is so good! I like the sound of using coconut milk in it.

eatme_delicious said...

Ricki: Aw thank you!

Erin: Thanks!

Holler: I agree, and filling too.

Beth: Thanks!

Grace: Haha I've never thought of it as a miracle food before... but you make a good point!

Hannah: Yea I love peanut noodles too!

Usha: Thanks!

Helene: Thanks for the offer for the recipe, though I have that cookbook. Haven't made that stew yet. =)

Carla: Yes you should. =)

Snooky doodle: Thanks! And you should try it with pasta. =)

sweetpotato: Aw thank you!

Gigi: Thanks!

Sarah: Haha thanks!

Maria: Aw well at least he can enjoy the pie. =)

Deborah: Thanks!

Sara: Hope you like it.

Kevin: Mmm yes coconut milk in anything is good.

Anonymous said...

awesome! I just made this, and it is fantastic! Thanks for the tip.

Manasi said...

I cooked this right now- it turned out yummy.. thanks for the recipe..

Tomsmum said...

Surprisingly yummy - we don't eat quite so much peanut butter this side of the Atlantic so I don't make that many recipes with it. But this was very good. I ommited the salt and 1/2 the garlic as I was serving it to my children - twas nice. Not to be served to guests but as a weekday meal - def one for the books!

Shelley R. said...

Great sauce with some classic flavours. Here is how I kicked it up notch - add zest & juice of 1/2 lime, and about a tsp of zested ginger. I keep my whole ginger in the freezer uncovered and zest it skin and all when I need it.