Healthy Easy Zucchini Noodle Stir-Fry (Printable Version)

Vibrant stir-fry with spiralized zucchini noodles and creamy peanut sauce; fresh, quick, nutritious, and flavorful.

# Ingredient List:

→ Vegetables

01 - 4 medium zucchinis, spiralized (about 6 cups)
02 - 1 large red bell pepper, thinly sliced
03 - 1 large carrot, julienned or spiralized
04 - 1 cup snap peas, trimmed and halved
05 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Peanut Sauce

07 - 1/3 cup natural peanut butter
08 - 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
09 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
11 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
12 - 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
13 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
14 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
15 - 2 to 4 tablespoons warm water
16 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

→ Garnish

17 - 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, chopped
18 - Additional cilantro or green onions for serving

# Directions:

01 - Spiralize zucchinis and carrots. Thinly slice bell pepper and green onions. Trim and halve snap peas. Chop cilantro and mince garlic. Grate ginger.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, maple syrup, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Start with 2 tablespoons warm water and add more in 1 tablespoon increments until sauce is smooth and pourable.
03 - Heat a large nonstick skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add a splash of sesame oil if desired for extra flavor.
04 - Add bell pepper, carrot, and snap peas to the hot skillet. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until vegetables are tender-crisp.
05 - Add spiralized zucchini noodles and cook while tossing gently for 2 to 3 minutes until heated through. Avoid overcooking to prevent soggy noodles.
06 - Pour peanut sauce over vegetables and toss to coat evenly. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes while stirring until all ingredients are warmed through.
07 - Remove from heat and serve immediately. Top with chopped roasted peanuts, fresh cilantro, and sliced green onions.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in less than 30 minutes, which means weeknight dinner stress basically disappears.
  • The peanut sauce is so creamy and tangy that it completely tricks you into thinking you're eating something decadent.
  • You can prep everything in advance and cook it in one pan when hunger strikes.
02 -
  • Zucchini noodles release water as they sit, so this dish is a eat-it-now situation; leftovers work better if you store the noodles and sauce separately and reassemble when you're hungry.
  • Don't skip the warm water when making the sauce because cold water makes peanut butter stubborn and clumpy instead of silky.
03 -
  • If your sauce tastes too intense, add more warm water a teaspoon at a time instead of panicking; you can always make it creamier but you can't take back too much liquid.
  • Pat your spiralized zucchini dry with paper towels before cooking so excess moisture doesn't steam the noodles instead of letting them stay tender and toothsome.
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