Remember when I made kale pesto a few weeks ago? I confessed to being kind of over vegetables. Don’t get me wrong, in my heart I still love veggies but right now I’m way more into all of the amazing fresh fruit available this season. The pesto was attempt number one to sneak some veggies back into my diet in a more creative way.
Today I’m coming at you with another fun recipe to help you eat more veggies when you just aren’t feeling them. Friends, meet carrot noodles.
Vegetable noodles and spiralizing have been all the rage for a few years now, which is great. Anything that helps us all eat more vegetables is good in my book. The only issue is…I don’t have a spiralizer. I know, I’m probably the last blogger on earth without a spiralizer. I did have one of the little handheld spiralizers awhile back, but I got a little overzealous and broke it (don’t ask). Needless to say, I’ve felt really left out of the veggie noodle party.
A few months ago, I made Minimalist Baker’s chickpea bolognese (which is an AMAZING recipe, try it!) and she used carrot noodles made with a vegetable peeler. Brilliant, right?
I basically became obsessed with that recipe. I made chickpea bolognese for several weeks in a row, then thought it would be fun to try the carrot noodles with a different flavor profile. The idea for carrot noodles with peanut sauce popped in my head and I couldn’t get it out for weeks. After thinking so much about it, I finally made it and loved the result. The natural sweetness of the carrot pairs beautifully with the slightly spicy peanut sauce. Let’s just say I found a way to get excited about veggies again. Hey party!
The other great thing about this recipe is how versatile it is. Want to make it paleo? Sub the peanut butter for almond butter or cashew butter. Nut-free? Use sunflower seed butter. Vegan? Use maple syrup or agave instead of honey. Don’t eat soy? Top it with chicken instead of tofu. Do you, boo. The recipe is a really simple base that can be completely customized based off of your preference.
- 8-10 Carrots, ribboned into noodles with a vegetable peeler
- ½ Tablespoon Coconut Oil (or any oil you like to cook with)
- ¼ Cup Peanut Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Coconut Aminos (or Tamari/Low Sodium Soy Sauce)
- 1 Tablespoon Rice Wine Vinegar
- Juice of 1 Lime
- 1 Teaspoon Sesame Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Sriracha
- 1 Teaspoon of Honey (sub maple syrup or agave for vegan)
- Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes
- Scallions
- Shredded Red Cabbage
- Crushed Peanuts
- Cilantro
- Sesame Seeds
- Protein of choice (I topped with pan-fried tofu. Shredded chicken is also good here!)
- In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the peanut sauce until smooth. It takes a bit of stirring to break down the peanut butter.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the cooking oil. Add the carrot noodles to the pan and lightly saute until they just begin to soften, about 1-2 minutes.
- Pour the peanut sauce into the pan, and continue to saute until all the noodles are coated. You don’t want to keep the carrot noodles on the heat for too long, otherwise they will get mushy.
- Top with desired toppings of choice and serve immediately.
Your Turn:
- Are you into veggie noodles? What is your favorite kind of veggie to make noodles with?
- I want to know your honest thoughts on vegetables – what’s your favorite? Do you eat them because you actually like them, or because you know they’re good for you? Tell me everything.
I don’t own a spiralizer, but I reaaallllly want to try veggie noodles. I actually genuinely love vegetables too, I always have! Especially roasted….omg sooo good. But I’ll eat veggies in any form. Raw, cooked, baked, roasted, you name it! Gorgeous photos Les!! 🙂
Thank you so much Marina. Have an amazing weekend! <3
I love all veggies noodles, especially zucchini and carrot so I know I would LOVE this simple and delicious recipe! I eat veggies because I love them to be honest. Some people think I’m weird but i can’t help it haha. I also love that it can be adapted to any dietary restrictions too.
It’s not weird at all! I love veggies too – I just got sick of eating them the same old way. Veggie lovers gotta stick together!
i once made carrot noodles with a peeler and it took me AGES haha. but it was so worth it cause it was delicious!! love the photos Les, looks gorgeous
Hahaha it does take awhile – I turned on a podcast while doing it. That made me feel a little more productive!
Whoa I would have never thought of doing this! Thank you, sounds delicious!
So glad you like it!
I am such a sucker for ANYTHING with a peanut sauce on it. And girl, you gotta get yourself a spiralizer! I cannot imagine the time it took to make those carrot noodles. This looks delicious Les!
Haha I know, I want one! But if I bring one more gadget into the kitchen my family will evict me. Once I got into a groove the carrot noodles didn’t take too long 🙂
I could live on veggies! I always say I may overdose, but I DO love them and crave them! Haha! I could never pick a favorite though! I go through phases of which ones I’m obsessed with!
I do the same thing!
Well I think these look absolutely lovely for being made with a peeler! You go, girl. Must try that bolognese recipe soon!!
Thanks so much! You would LOVE the bolognese. It’s so good!
Definitely need to break out my spiralizer for this recipe! I’ve been using it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner lately haha
Yasss can’t say as I blame you. I would too if I had one!
This looks SO colorful and super delicious! Love it!
Thank you Laura!
Oh yum! Love the idea of pairing peanut sauce with vegetable noodles, will have to give this a try!
Thank you so much – please let me know if you do 🙂
YUM! Looooove any/all veggie noodles… pair them with peanut sauce and I’m a happy girl 🙂
Amen sister, I will eat pretty much anything that has peanut sauce!
I’m ADDICTED to veggies, but I notice that when I eat them the same way over and over again, it literally makes me sick after awhile! So I always try to cook them differently so that doesn’t happen – gotta switch it up between roasting, steaming, using different oils and spices, etc!
Totally agree with you! I definitely get stuck in veggie ruts where I get super sick of eating them the same way and need to spice things up.
Haha I can just imagine the spiralizer getting broken. I would 100% break it too since I’m about as graceful as an elephant. I love the idea of replacing noodles with carrots! I have yet to spiralize any sort of veggies, but now that I know that I can use a veggie peeler…..**success**!
Favorite recipe: brussel sprouts. There is this really great recipe that I always use…oh, wait….:D 😀
Hahah the poor spiralizer. I was just a little too aggressive. Veggie peelers also make fun ribbon-like noodles for zucchini! And for real, it like makes my heart so happy that you love that recipe – its one of my favorites too 🙂