Edamame Noodle Bowl with Peanut Sauce

This Edamame Noodle Bowl with Peanut Sauce is sure to be your new favourite vegetarian weeknight meal. Flavourful, filling and plant-based! What more could you ask for?

This recipe has been adapted from a recipe shared on Instagram by the wonderful, plant-based food blogger, Deliciously Ella. I came across this recipe as I was planning my upcoming meals for the week and I couldn’t wait to try it. Although we try to include at least one vegetarian or vegan dinner each week, my boyfriend, Matt, isn’t always convinced by them. This recipe was different. As soon as he said this is one of his top 5 favourite recipes we make, I knew it had to be on the blog.

Plant-based meals

Including vegetarian or vegan meals into your routine has so many benefits for your health and the health of the planet. That being said, I do notice that quite a few plant-based recipes can be low in protein, unless you want to eat large portions of one particular bean. For this reason, I try to add extra protein through additional pulses, in the dressing or in toppings, like nuts or seeds, for example.

In this recipe, not only is there protein from edamame beans, but also in the added chickpeas or lentils. Bonus: these ingredients also provide an excellent source of fibre!

We can’t forget about flavour! Here is what you need for the peanut sauce:

• Peanut butter
  • You can use the traditional Kraft peanut butter or your favourite “natural” product. Alternatively, almond butter could work here too!
• Plant-based milk
  • Whatever milk you have on hand will work, and if you prefer to use water instead, no problem! It just won’t be as creamy.
• Soy sauce
• Rice vinegar
• Maple syrup
  • For that extra bit of sweetness. I have cut this amount back from the original recipe as I don’t like my dinners to be super sweet or maple-y. But if you do, feel free to add in an extra 1/2-1 tbsp to the sauce.
• Sriracha
  • This is another ingredient that I reduced in portion from Deliciously Ella’s version. I like a little bit of spice but Matt cannot relate. Feel free to adjust the taste and spice levels according to your preference.
• Fresh garlic
• Lime juice
  • Lime is preferred but if this isn’t available to you, lemon would work here too.

Tips & Substitutions

The other wonderful this about this recipe is how versatile it is. Here are some tips and substitutions you could make if so inclined:

• Instead of rice noodles, opt for rice, quinoa, couscous or orzo.
• Choose your preferred type of beans or legumes other than chickpeas for the extra protein and fibre.
• Switch up the veggies and instead use broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms or other types of bell peppers.
• In the peanut sauce, choose almond or cashew butter instead of peanut butter.
• Double the peanut sauce and save it for leftovers or use as a dressing on a salad later in the week.

There are so many ways you can make this recipe your own. Depending on your preferences, you may end up creating your own variation like I have here. However you mix it, I hope it leaves you satisfied and happy!

Don’t forget to check out some of these other plant-based meals:

• Sweet Potato and Lentil Peanut Stew
• Dill Falafel Rice Bowls
• Cashew and Sweet Potato Curry
• Easy Chickpea Stir Fry

If you make this Edamame Noodle Bowl with Peanut Sauce I would love to see your comment and rating below. It also makes my day seeing your creations of my recipes on Instagram- don’t forget to tag @allnutrition.rd!