I am a huge fan of quick and easy dinners.  I also like to eat vegan when possible – I’m not a full vegan, but after reading a lot of different studies (which I’ll undoubtedly touch on at some point in this blog’s lifetime) I’ve been trying to cut back on some of my meat and animal-product intake.

This recipe checks all of my boxes.  It’s vegan, fast, and delicious… and it’s got peanut butter.  Who doesn’t love peanut butter?

Peanut Pad Thai¹

Ingredients for 4 servings:
– 4 oz. Uncooked Udon Noodles
– 1 tbsp Vegetable Oil
– 2 cups Snow Peas
– 1 cup Shredded/Matchstick Carrots
– .25 cup Chopped Green Onion
– .25 cup Hot Water
– .25 cup Reduced Sugar Peanut Butter
– 3 tbsp Hot Chili Sauce (brand of choice)
– 1 tbsp Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce
– .25 cup Chopped Unsalted Peanuts

The steps aren’t too difficult once you’ve obtained all of the ingredients.

1. Cook and drain the udon noodles.
2. Add oil to a separate pan or skillet and heat (around medium to high heat). Once oil is heated, add peas and carrots and stir-fry for a few minutes. Then remove from heat or reduce heat to low).
3. Add peanut butter, water, chili sauce, and soy sauce to the warm skillet. Mix in until it forms a sauce-like consistency.
4. Add the cooked noodles to the sauce mix, sprinkling in the peanuts and green onions as you mix to spread throughout. Stir until you have coated the noodles evenly with the sauce.
5. Let cool and enjoy.

It’s also pretty lean on calories per serving – although, as with any noodle dish, it’s a bit high in carbs.

Per-Serving Nutrition (approximate): 330 calories, 12g protein, 33g carbohydrates, 5g fiber, 17g fat, 3g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 755mg sodium

Now, I know what you’re probably thinking. “Peanuts are so high in fat and calories! This recipe has peanuts AND peanut butter.”  But I’d like you to stop and consider – peanuts are a great source of protein and fiber. Since this dish is indeed vegan, you’ll need to get your protein somewhere. Peanuts also have a slew of other health benefits.

Studies have linked peanut consumption to increased heart health.  In fact, one study actually linked nut consumption to a 20% reduced risk of overall and heart-related deaths.  Peanuts have also been found to lower risk for cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Not bad for a little old nut!²

Overall, I find this to be a pretty quick and tasty dish.  Let me know if you try it, down in the comments or on Instagram.  Have any recommendations or tweaks?  Any other dishes you’d like to see? I’d love to hear your feedback!

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¹ 101 Best Vegan Foods, Publications International
² “Eating nuts, peanuts daily could lower death risk from cancer, other diseases,” Medical News Today, 6/11/2015