Garlicky Peanut Soba Noodles with Roasted Broccoli is our new favourite vegetarian way to enjoy dinner! Nutritious from the soba noodles and broccoli, but incredibly kid-friendly thanks to a garlicky peanut sauce.
Going vegetarian while still maintaining the all the nutrients and minerals my small children need, can be a challenge – it has to taste so delicious they don’t notice any meat is amiss. Enter the sauce in this Garlicky Peanut Soba Noodles with Roasted Broccoli. Sauces and dips can mean the difference between a successful meal and one that literally makes me want to hide under the table.
Here an extra hit of garlic puts some pizzazz into a savoury peanut sauce that one of my kids would drink if I let her. Paired with the roasted broccoli (the easiest way to get kids to eat broccoli in my opinion) this meal can do no wrong. It’s ready in around 30 minutes (less, if you’re quick with prep).
When vegetarian meals happen, they often can be covered in cheese or made super creamy (which is not an issue for me, I’m all about the cheese as you can see in this vegetarian Enchilada Quinoa Casserole) to make them more palatable to kids. Here, there’s no need to do so as the peanut sauce makes up the flavour party without any dairy (making it a vegan meal). Which, to be honest is a huge bonus for this mom who somehow ended up with a cheese-hating daughter.
This one pot pasta is filled with vegetables that you could easily serve with whole grain pasta and these Eggplant Rolls have a little bacon and a little cheese, but they both can go a long way get kids eating more veg.
This dish is so completely satisfying without compromising on flavour or added indulgent ingredients. I had to stop myself from eating it all afternoon after I took my photos. Yes, that is a thing that happens. When it’s really good, it’s difficult to stop eating the dish all day.
If anyone is totally grossed out by broccoli, but loves green beans, they too work well here (shown above). I did a switch out for the vegetables while recipes testing once, and it was as good as the broccoli version. The peanut sauce has a creamy like texture without any cream involved.
- 1 x 8oz 230 g package soba noodles, cooked as per package directions and 1/4 cup pasta water reserved
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2-1 garlic clove finely grated or chopped (start with 1/2 of a clove and then add more once you've tasted the sauce)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 large head of broccoli chopped into bite size pieces
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and Pepper to season
- Optional garnishes: crushed peanuts and chopped cilantro
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Preheat oven to 400° F.
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Cook soba noodles as per packages instructions, usually 8-10 minutes in boiling water. Immediately before draining set aside 1/4 cup of water.
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Meanwhile, toss broccoli with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread out on a baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes.
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For the sauce place peanut butter, garlic, soy, lime juice, and reserved 1/4 cup of water (from noodles) in a blender or food processor and blend until well combined.
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Toss cooked noodles with peanut sauce until noodles are coated with sauce. Serves with roasted broccoli and optional garnishes if desired.
If replacing broccoli with green beans, simply add them to the soba noodles with 2-3 minutes left in the cooking process. Drain and toss with noodles and peanut sauce.
Enjoy! xo
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