Peanut Butter Ramen is a quick dish combining ramen noodles and edamame in a super tasty peanut sauce that’s got a bit of everything – sweet, savory, tangy, and a kick of spice. It’s a satisfying mix of tender noodles, crunchy toppings, and a rich creamy sauce, all ready in about 15-20 minutes.
Peanut Butter Ramen is part of our Back-To-School Lifesavers — a series of recipes that are intended to have little (or no) veggie chopping, minimal prep time, around 10 ingredients or less (not including pantry staples), and use kid-friendly ingredients. Click here to see all the recipes in the series!
Peanut Butter Ramen
Peanut Butter Ramen is a meal bursting with flavor that’s conveniently made with pantry staples and a few other simple ingredients. The only fresh components you’ll need are herbs– but don’t worry, this dish will still taste amazing even without them!
This recipe borrows and slightly tweaks the sauce from these beloved Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps. It’s a family favorite that relies on pantry staples, and it’s also the first peanut sauce that managed to win over my kids! Paired with the noodles, this sauce takes the dish to the next level – you’re going to fall in love with it!
Peanut Butter Ramen Ingredients
- Ramen noodles: To keep things nice and easy, we’re using instant ramen packets here. Discard or save the seasoning packets for another recipe,–we won’t be using them here.
- Edamame: If you’re using frozen edamame, there’s no need to thaw before cooking. They can go directly into the boiling water with the ramen. If you can’t find edamame, frozen peas are a good substitute.
- Green onions: These provide a nice, mild onion flavor. I like to add the bulk of the onions to the noodles, leaving some extra for garnishing at the end.
- Cilantro: This is optional, but it adds a refreshing touch and bright flavor to the dish. (Some people have a genetic trait that makes cilantro taste like soap, so consider your audience before adding this.)
- Sesame seeds: If you’ve got toasted sesame seeds, that’s a bonus! They’ve got a richer nutty flavor and add a satisfying crunch to the dish.
- Peanuts: These are optional, but they add a nice crunch and extra layer of flavor. Use unsalted peanuts to control the saltiness.
Sauce Ingredients
- Natural creamy peanut butter: The creamy consistency and rich flavor come from the peanut butter. You could also use chunky peanut butter if you prefer a bit of crunch in your Peanut Butter Ramen and don’t want to separately add in peanuts.
- Regular soy sauce: Use soy sauce to provide the savory umami flavor in the sauce. Lite soy sauce contains less sodium but also less flavor, so regular is preferred.
- Rice vinegar: This adds a tangy flavor that helps balance the sweetness and richness of the other ingredients. If you don’t have this, you could substitute white wine vinegar.
- Toasted sesame oil: The strong, nutty flavor of toasted sesame oil greatly enhances the sauce. Be sure to get toasted sesame oil, not plain.
- Ginger paste and garlic paste: These add a fresh and aromatic flavor to the sauce. If you can’t find paste, you can usually find finely minced fresh ginger and garlic in the produce section.
- Light brown sugar and sriracha sauce: The sugar adds a touch of sweetness while the sriracha contributes a spicy kick. Feel free to adjust these to your preference, but keep in mind that reducing either may also diminish the overall flavor of this Peanut Butter Ramen.
Shortcuts
The Cooking “Shortcuts”
Here are some tips to keep prep time short and sweet for this Peanut Butter Ramen:
- Use frozen veggies: Frozen vegetables, like shelled edamame, require no extra prep and cook right along with the ramen. This saves time and still provides a nutritious component to the dish.
- Go for store-bought conveniences: If chopping isn’t your thing, snag pre-sliced green onions from the grocery store, along with refrigerated ginger and garlic paste. For an even easier option, check out Dorot’s® garlic and ginger cubes. They’re crushed, frozen, and ready to use right out of the freezer for this recipe and many others. You’ll usually find them in the frozen vegetable section.
- Prepare the sauce in advance. While not necessarily a shortcut, if you make the sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator, this dish will come together much faster at dinnertime! If you do prepare it in advance, microwave it for 30 seconds to a minute to get it to room temperature before tossing with the noodles.
How To Make Peanut Butter Ramen (Tips)
- Salt the water: Add salt to the boiling water before cooking the ramen to enhance the flavor of the noodles. Salt increases the boiling point of water and helps the noodles absorb flavor, leading to a more delicious end result.
- Cook the ramen: Remember to stop the cooking process 30 seconds earlier than what’s directed on the packet. This prevents overcooking and ensures your ramen noodles maintain a good texture and don’t end up mushy.
- Rinse the noodles: After cooking and draining, rinse the ramen under cold water immediately. This helps to stop the cooking process, keep the noodles firm, and also prevents them from sticking together.
- Add the sauce: Pour the sauce on the noodles while they are still warm. The warmth helps the sauce absorb better, ensuring every noodle is packed with flavor.
- Mix the ingredients: When combining all ingredients, do it gently to avoid breaking the noodles or making them mushy. Use tongs to help you mix the ingredients more evenly.
Adding More Protein To Peanut Butter Ramen
It might surprise you to hear that this Peanut Butter Ramen recipe boasts a rounded nutritional profile, even without meat! It combines carbohydrates from the noodles, protein from the edamame and peanut butter, and healthy fats from the sesame oil and peanuts/peanut butter. This balance ensures you get a good mix of macro and micronutrients in each serving, while also keeping you satiated.
Edamame, by the way, is a fantastic source of plant-based protein. One cup of cooked edamame provides around 18 grams of protein. It’s also packed with fiber, antioxidants, and vital nutrients like folate and vitamin K, making it a nutritious addition to any dish.
That said, if you’d like to increase the protein content even further, there are several ways to do so.
- Add tofu: Tofu is another excellent plant-based protein. You can sauté it in a bit of sesame oil before adding it to the dish.
- Incorporate other legumes: Use chickpeas or lentils in addition to, or in place of, edamame for an extra protein boost.
- Add lean meats or seafood: For non-vegetarian options, grilled chicken or shrimp go well with this recipe. Remember to cook the meats separately before adding them to the noodles.
More Easy Ramen Noodle Recipes:
- Chicken Ramen Noodles with broccoli
- Fried Cabbage Ramen with bacon and Parmesan
- General Tso Ramen with bok choy
- Ground Beef Ramen with broccoli and carrots
- Beef and Broccoli Ramen with a delicious sauce!
Peanut Butter Ramen
Ingredients
- 5 pkts. (15 oz total) ramen noodles (Note 1)
- 2 cups shelled edamame (or frozen peas or skip addition entirely) (Note 2)
- Fine sea salt
- 1 bunch green onions, separated
- ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro, optional
- 4 teaspoons sesame seeds
- Optional: handful of coarsely chopped dry-roasted peanuts
Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons natural creamy peanut butter
- 2½ tablespoons regular soy sauce (not lite!)
- 1½ tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons each: ginger paste and garlic paste (or minced garlic) (Note 3)
- 2 teaspoons each: light brown sugar and sriracha sauce (Note 4)
Instructions
- EDAMAME AND RAMEN: Begin by bringing 12 cups of water to a rolling boil and mix in 2 tsp fine sea salt. Pop in the edamame first. Depending on your edamame brand, the cooking time may vary; the brand I use needs about 4-5 minutes in boiling water. With this in mind, add the ramen noodles to the boiling water during the last 2 ½ minutes of the edamame's cook time (or 30 seconds less than what the ramen package instructs). After they're cooked, drain everything and rinse quickly under cold water to stop any sticking.
- SAUCE: Combine all the sauce ingredients in a glass liquid measuring cup. Whisk until the mixture is smooth. Meanwhile, thinly slice the green onions until you have about ⅔ cup. Set aside some extra for garnishing. If using, finely chop the cilantro.
- FINISH: In a large bowl, combine the drained noodles and edamame with the green onions, cilantro, and sesame seeds. Pour the sauce on top and gently toss with tongs to coat the noodles evenly. If desired, garnish with chopped peanuts and the reserved green onions before serving.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Cant wait to make this soon for me i never had peanut butter ramen before perfect for my after office meals love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
You’re going to love! Enjoy! 🙂