Veggie Pad Thai Salad with a sweet and savoury peanut dressing – ready in 15 minutes or less. This spicy noodle bowl uses julienned zucchini in place of noodles making it perfect as light lunch or dinner side.
I think it’s about time I buy myself an spiralizer because I’m just about done with slicing the ever-loving you-know-what out of my fingers with my current julienne peeler. We had a good run together, my julienne peeler and I and have made lots of fun things together. We went through countless carrots, tons of courgettes, I even made hash browns out of a few potatoes. But now it’s time for bigger and better things and I can’t keep hurting myself like this. It’s time to move on….
Until then, I just can’t help myself. I am so on board with this whole zoodle craze that has taken hold. Maybe it’s because I’m still a five year old at heart, but I find it so much easier to eat my vegetables when they are small enough that I can pretend they’re not there. One of my favorite breakfasts involves me slicing up a zucchini, cutting it up into even smaller bits and throwing it in my eggs with a bit of feta and cherry tomatoes and you don’t even know they’re there. It’s amazing.
Which brings me to this Pad Thai salad. Unlike regular Pad Thai, this replaces the noodles with shredded zucchini aka “zoodles”. Between the zoodles, the shredded carrot, and everything else this veggie Pad Thai is basically a big ol’ bowl of your five a day. Also unlike traditional Pad Thai, there’s no stir frying required – just a quick flash fry of carrots and zucchini to soften them up. Then all you have to do is pile on the peppers, the herbs, and the 2 minute peanut sauce and you have a fresher and healthier reincarnation of your very a takeout favorite.
If you crave a little more protein in your life you can also toss in a bit of chopped chicken or tofu. Or you can just go crazy like me and throw in another handful (or two) of chopped peanuts. I dig that crunch.
Speaking of peanuts. I am all about this peanut dressing. It’s simple. It’s sweet. It’s savory. It takes more time to actually locate the ingredients to make said dressing than it does to mix it all together. I want to pour this sauce over my cereal and have it for breakfast it’s that good.
This, in my opinion, is the way vegetables should be eaten.
Do any of you own a spiralizer type contraption or have any recommendations? If so – discuss in the comments and let me know!
Veggie Pad Thai Zoodles
Veggie Pad Thai Salad with a sweet and savory peanut dressing - ready in 15 minutes or less. This spicy noodle bowl uses julienned zucchiuni in place of noodles making it perfect as light lunch or dinner side.
Ingredients
- 2 large zucchinis shredded
- 1 large carrot shredded
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup a small handful fresh cilantro, diced + more for garnshing
- 1/4 cup a small handful fresh basil, chopped
- 1/4 cup of green onions, diced (green part only for low FODMAP)
- 1 hot pepper sliced - remove the seed if you want less heat
- 1/2 cup | 65 grams peanuts, toasted and roughly chopped
- juice from 1/2 lime
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- 2 tbsp sesame oil + more for frying
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos or tamari
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar, or brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Heat a skillet with a little bit of sesame oil and flash fry your shredded zucchini and carrot for 1-2 minutes to soften. Make sure to stir the entire time, then remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl.
- Add the diced red peppers, hot pepper, fresh herbs, and peanuts to the zoodles and squeeze the lime juice over the veggies. Toss to combine.
- In a small bowl add the peanut butter, sesame oil, coconut aminos (or tamari), sugar, and red pepper flakes - whisk to combine. Pour over the zoodles and toss. Garnish with additional cilantro and peanuts and serve.
Nutrition Information
Other Vegan/ Low FODMAP recipe you may like….
Sarah says
Excellent! I hope you like it as much as we do when you get around to it!
Julia says
Wow, looks really delicious. Feel like having it now.
Sarah says
Thanks, Julia!
Kennedy Cole| KCole's Creative Corner says
I am so with you: even though I don’t have a spiralizer, I still NEED zoodles and the like! And these pad thai noodles look like my newest zoodle craze! I definitely want to try these out sometime! Thanks for sharing! Pinned! 😀
Sarah says
Thanks, Girl! I love my zoodles 🙂
Jeanne Horak-Druiff says
Hahaha – I feel your pain! Also only have a julienne peeler, not a spiraliser and definitely feeling the need to invest in one! Such a gorgeous dish and packed with flavour and crunch!
Sarah says
WE just have to make the plunge and treat ourselves (and our fingers) I think! Thanks, Jeanne!
Kacie Morgan says
I’ve been meaning to get a spiralizer, they look really handy!
Kacie – The Rare Welsh Bit
Sarah says
I know, right? I go green with envy every time I see someone with those perfectly spiraled noodles – it’s got to happen
Meg @ NomingthruLife says
Oh girrrl get yourself a spiralizer already and keep your fingers where they belong… attached! I love using a spiralizer since it’s so fast and kind of fun too. But what I really love is this freakin pad thai!! OH MY GOSH does it look delicious. I will definitely have to make this one, my belly is already asking for it 😉
Sarah says
Thanks, Meg! Is it weird that the other thing I really like about spiralizer’s is that they always make the noodles veggies look all nice and curly? Because I totally love that! Thank you so much – hope you like it as much as we did!
Abeer says
I always order this at my favorite Asian restaurant. I can’t believe it’s so easy to make at home!
By the way, your pictures are gorgeous!
Sarah says
Thanks you so much, Abeer! I love it when I realize that I can make my favorite dishes at home – it just opens up a whole new world, doesn’t it?
Laura @MotherWouldKnow says
I love the concept of replacing noodles with zoodles. I just got a spiralizer and made one dish – that’s all it took to convince me that I could become a fan. Besides, I’m a a huge fan of Pad Thai, so this looks perfect for me.
Sarah says
#teamspiralizer! Thanks, Laura!
Gabriel @ The Dinner Special podcast says
Zoodles! Pad Thai!! What an awesome combo! And I’m sure your peanut sauce just puts it over the top!! This is something I’m definitely going to have to try – maybe get my spiralizer first though (totally feel your pain with the finger and knuckle damage of certain kitchen activities). I like adding crispy tofu to my pad thai but more peanuts sounds like a wonderful plan too!
Sarah says
You can never go wrong when you throw a bit of crispy tofu into things – you could also just go to town and add both tofu and peanuts! Thanks, Gabriel!
lindsay Cotter says
i’m in love with this dish! veggie noodles are so refreshing and even more fun to slurp! haha
Sarah says
Right?! It’s perfect for these hot summer days! Thanks, Lindsay 🙂