This is my new favorite Asian-Inspired pasta dish.  I’ve tried a number of recipes in the past, and tweaking those, came up with this nutritious (and so flavorful) one!  Give it a try.

Soba Noodle Salad in a Gingery Peanut Dressing

Serves 4

• 8 oz soba noodles
• 1/2 cup Peanut Butter
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1 Tbs agave nectar
• 1 Tbs fresh ginger, minced
• 2 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 Tbs lime juice
• 1 tsp fresh lime zest
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, divided
• 1 1/4 cups fresh snow peas, sliced into matchsticks
• 1/3 of a large English cucumber, peeled, seeded, sliced into matchsticks
• 1 small red bell pepper, sliced into matchsticks
• 1 large carrot, sliced into matchsticks
• 2 Tbs chopped peanuts, optional

Directions

1. Cook noodles in boiling water according to package directions. Drain, and rinse under cold running water.

2. While noodles are cooking combine peanut butter, vinegar, agave, ginger, soy sauce, garlic, lime juice, lime zest, and 1/4 cup cilantro in a blender or food processor until smooth and creamy.  If mixture is too thick, slowly add in a few Tbsp of the soba noodle cooking water to thin.

3. Toss together the noodles, peas, cucumbers, peppers, carrots and peas) cucumber, bell pepper, carrot, and peanut butter mixture. Garnish with remaining cilantro and chopped peanuts, if using.

Veggies all cut up into matchsticks

Nutrition Information (per serving):

Total calories 460

Total fat 17 g

Saturated fat 3 g

Trans fat 0 g

Cholesterol 0 mg

Sodium 540 mg

Carbohydrate 66 g

Dietary fiber 7 g

Protein 15 g