Soba Noodles and Chicken with Spicy Peanut Sauce
This recipe for Soba Noodles and Chicken with Spicy Peanut Sauce is made with ingredients you most likely already have stocked in your pantry! It’s great for those days when you know you need to go food shopping and haven’t had the time, or when you need to clean out the vegetable bin. Shredded carrots, zucchini, or anything with crunch would work well.
This recipe for Soba Noodles and Chicken with Spicy Peanut Sauce is made with ingredients you most likely already have stocked in your pantry! It’s great for those days when you know you need to go food shopping and haven’t had the time, or when you need to clean out the vegetable bin. Shredded carrots, zucchini, or anything with crunch would work well.
Note: This recipe for Soba Noodles and Chicken with Spicy Peanut Sauce was originally published on April 21, 2013, as part of the Simple Sundays series here on Kitchen Confidante. It has been updated with improved kitchen notes, recipe annotation, and photography. I hope you enjoy this favorite from my kitchen!
Hints of the Season
This could be it. I think it’s here to stay. (Fingers crossed.)
I’m talking about summer.
Each day has been warmer than the day before. Nearly a whole week has gone by without the need for jackets and socks. We even had our first power outage today, the energy company’s first signal that summer is upon us.
Eating for Summer
I know it may seem silly to want to catapult into summer when spring just arrived for most of the country, but the taste of 88 degrees and summer dresses has me in a summer state of mind. This week, I’ve been eating like it’s June, opting for cool and refreshing lunches, preferably with lots of crunchy fresh vegetables.
Soba Noodles & Chicken with Spicy Peanut Sauce
I made a big batch of Soba Noodles & Chicken with Spicy Peanut Sauce, and I just loved diving into it for a few days straight, twirling the noodles coated in the spiced-up sauce, spearing icy cool cucumbers and peppery radishes for the perfect bite.
This is a flexible dish that can be eaten either warm or cold – and clearly, I prefer it cold. Japanese buckwheat soba noodles have a lovely bite, and in many ways, I consider this more salad than noodle dish since I like to put lots of vegetables in the dish. But it’s up to you. Eat it plain, or add some tofu. Have some leftover roast chicken? Shred it and toss it in. It all works. And it comes together faster than you can say Soba Noodles and Chicken with Spicy Peanut Sauce.
MORE SOBA NOODLE RECIPES TO TRY
Chicken Mushroom Soba Noodle Soup
Salmon and Soba Noodle Salad
Sesame Ginger Soba Noodles from Life Made Sweeter
MORE SPICY SAUCE RECIPES TO TRY
Zucchini Noodles with Chicken and Tangy Peanut Sauce
Fresh Spring Rolls with Spicy Carrot Sauce
Thai Shrimp and Coconut Quinoa Bowl and More One Bowl Meals
Soba Noodles and Chicken with Spicy Peanut Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1/3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar or lemon juice
- 1/2 cup hot or boiling water
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or sriracha to taste
- 1 teaspoon sugar to taste
- 8 oz soba noodles
- 1 roasted or poached chicken breast shredded
- 4 scallions trimmed and chopped
- 1/2 English cucumber quartered and chopped
- 4 radishes thinly sliced
- 1/2 red bell pepper thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup cilantro chopped
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Combine the peanut butter, sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar or lemon juice, hot water, garlic, ginger, red pepper/sriracha, and sugar in a small bowl and whisk well to combine. This can also be prepared in a blender or a food processor. If you need to adjust the consistency of the sauce so that it is thinner, add more hot water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and salt it. Cook the soba noodles, according to package instructions (about 6 minutes).
- When the noodles are cooked, drain the noodles. Toss the noodles in the peanut sauce, along with the vegetables and chicken (if using).
- Garnish with cilantro and sesame seeds. Serve warm or cool. If preparing as a cold salad, refrigerate and serve cold.
This recipe is great! Only modification I used was using extra chunky peanut butter, tablespoon of sriracha, 1 tablespoon of hot water instead of 2. Came together so quick in my food processor! Delicious! Thanks so much!
I’m so pleased that you enjoyed it, Anna! Thank you!
Yum, Liren! I have a soft spot for soba noodles with a peanut sauce. With the weather heading towards summer in our neck of the woods as you mentioned, your recipe is one I am definitely going to have to try!
This looks so wonderful. I wonder if I can find soba noodles here – I’ve been dying to try them – but they might be under another name.
Perfect dish! I love the recipe and combination of flavors…and your images are just so tempting. Fantastic post!
This is a great dish for a quick weeknight meal – I wonder if it can be turned into a soba noodle soup – we’re in the cold in Sydney!
This is a great dish for a quick weeknight meal – I wonder if it can be turned into a soba noodle soup – we’re in the cold in Sydney!
I think you are right. Summer is here. I can’t wait to start enjoying all these cold treats. Right now this one is at the top of my list!!
I do hope so, Bernadette! I think after the winter most of us have had, it is very welcome :)
I see my fat typing fingers were in typo mode again. Lol.
Oh Gina! You always make me laugh :)
Not silly at all, mover over Spring I have shorts to wear. He He. This sounds perfect for a week night and to avoid the oven. I hope to get back on some sort of schedule this week and will try and sit down tonight and make a collection so I can enter your giveaway. Hope your weekend was good.
-Gina-
I hope your weekend was good, too! Ah, getting back on schedule. The story of my life!
I’m all about soba noodle salads and this one looks INCREDIBLE. I may have to just try this with shrimp.
Ooh, good idea, Brian! I’ll have to try it with shrimp, too :)
Aren’t raw soba noodles just so photogenic. Loving your shot on that! And seriously I think Summer is here, it’s been so warm the past two days. No complains, I am loving it :)
So true, Kankana, soba is definitely photogenic. Thank you so much! Enjoy the sun, the next few days will be fabulous :)
What a coincidence- I just packed soba noodles tossed in peanut butter sauce with pan seared tofu- I loved addition of other veggies here
Great minds think alike! Sounds delicious with the pan seared tofu!
I am crossing my fingers, too! The persistent marine layer has been less so, and it’s beginning to feel like summer here as well. Love soba and peanut sauce and the radishes add brightness and a little bite :)
I hear the cooler weather will be returning, Priscilla, but hopefully that is not the case down where you live! Meantime, let’s enjoy these warm days!
Isn’t it nice to know warmer weather on its way? Love soba!!
Absolutely, Belinda! It makes me so happy to feel the sun on my skin :)
Peanut butter is crazy expensive where I live. It is more affordable to purchase Asian peanut sauce. Can you help me doctor the store bought peanut sauce?
{ When I’m back in the US, I’ll make it from scratch.} Thank you!
I’m enjoying the warm weather as well, and crunchy fresh vegetables like this are what it’s all about when it’s warm! When they’re paired with a spicy peanut sauce, it’s irresistible for me. This dish is one of my favorite kind of meals!
The only thing that would make this better is all the amazing produce we’ll have once summer really is here! Can’t wait!
Like you, I am so excited about summer weather! I love soba noodles and peanut sauce… this looks like a winner, and perfect for warm nights. Can’t wait to try it out! :)
This little summer tease is making me impatient! Then again, I am realizing that I won’t be want to bake as much once summer really arrives, and that would make me sad!