Asian Noodle Bowl with Shrimp (Printable version)

Tender shrimp and crisp vegetables in a savory Asian-inspired sauce with rice noodles, topped with crunchy peanuts and fragrant cilantro.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein

01 - 14 oz medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Noodles

02 - 7 oz rice noodles

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium zucchini, julienned
04 - 1 large carrot, julienned
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 3 green onions, sliced

→ Sauce

07 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
09 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
10 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
11 - 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce, optional

→ Toppings

12 - 1/3 cup roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
13 - 1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
14 - Lime wedges for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cook rice noodles according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly and rinse with cold water to cool completely. Set aside.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, lime juice, sesame oil, honey, and chili garlic sauce until fully combined. Set aside.
03 - Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add a splash of oil and sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Add shrimp to the pan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, turning once, until pink and cooked through. Remove shrimp and set aside.
05 - In the same pan, add julienned zucchini and carrot. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until just tender.
06 - Add cooked noodles, sliced green onions, and prepared sauce to the pan. Toss to combine and warm through.
07 - Return cooked shrimp to the pan and gently mix everything together until evenly coated and heated through.
08 - Divide among four bowls. Top with chopped peanuts, fresh cilantro, and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The whole bowl comes together in your kitchen faster than delivery would arrive, and tastes infinitely fresher.
  • Tender shrimp and vegetables stay crisp-tender instead of soggy, thanks to a timing trick that actually works.
  • One sauce does the heavy lifting, balancing sweet, salty, tangy, and spicy in perfect harmony.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cold water rinse on your noodles—warm noodles will turn mushy and clumpy in the sauce instead of staying separate and tender.
  • The sauce tastes better when you taste it before adding it to the pan rather than trying to fix it after, so take thirty seconds to adjust the balance yourself.
03 -
  • If your shrimp are large, they'll take a minute or two longer to cook—don't rush them or you'll end up with rubbery texture instead of that tender sweetness you're after.
  • The sesame oil is worth buying good quality—a bottle lasts forever and transforms this dish from tasty to genuinely unforgettable.
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