Spicy Peanut Soup for the Soul

Spicy Peanut Soup for the Soul

 Every person who has ever worked at Out of the Blue is obsessed with the Spicy Peanut Noodle Soup from the Spicy Noodle House. When Out of the Blue was in its old location down in the basement, it was next door to the Spicy Noodle House. The owner of SNH, affectionately called Mr. Noodle by the Out of the Blue gals, is a lovely man. Whenever we would run over from next door, he would look up and say “Hi girls! 7 plus 1?” which was our special order – the Spicy Peanut Soup combined with the Cantonese Noodle Soup (menu items 7 and 1). It is a delicious, noodley, spicy, peanuty soup that deserves to be as legendary as it is. It is absolutely worth running across the street for (now that we’re no longer right next door), but if you live in Ottawa like me, the best you can do is make it at home. I’ve been tweaking my at home version for about four years now, and this is pretty darn close to the real thing. Grab a friend and share your spicy delight – this is what your soul needs on a cold winter day!

Spicy Peanut Noodle Soup

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons soy sauce

½ teaspoon sesame oil, plus 1 teaspoon

1 clove garlic, finely minced

1 Tablespoon minced ginger

½ Tablespoon sugar

2 Tablespoons rice vinegar

¼ teaspoon chili-garlic paste (or Siracchia)

2 cups chopped vegetables (I like baby bok choy, carrots and celery)

4 cups vegetable broth

½ cup peanut butter

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more or less to taste)

½ package rice noodles or Chinese egg noodles, prepared according to package directions

2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves

Directions:

(1)   In small bowl, combine soy sauce, ½ teaspoon sesame oil, garlic, ginger, sugar, rice vinegar, and chili-garlic paste.  Set aside.

(2)   In medium pot, heat reserved 1 teaspoon of sesame oil. Add vegetables and cook stirring for 1 – 2 minutes.

(3)   Add vegetable broth and reserved soy sauce mixture to pot. Bring to a boil.

(4)   Whisk in peanut butter and red pepper flakes. The peanut butter will melt into the broth, but you need to vigorously whisk to avoid any peanut butter clumps in your soup.

(5)   Divide prepared noodles among soup bowls. Divide soup among bowls, garnish with cilantro leaves.

(6)   Enjoy!

Love,

Dayna