Tofu Peanut Noodles
Crisped tofu and noodles in a savory peanut sauce — a plant-based dinner with thirty grams of protein and a serious flavor payoff.
Ingredients
- 350 g Firm tofu
- 150 g Flat rice noodles (he fen)
- 4 tbsp Peanut butter
- 2 tbsp Soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Neutral oil
- 1 tsp Honey (optional)
- 1 Lime (optional)
- 2 cloves Garlic (optional)
- 2 Scallions (optional)
- 2 tbsp Peanuts (optional)
Method
- Soak or boil the rice noodles per the packet until just tender, then drain and rinse.
- Press the tofu, cut it into cubes, and pat dry.
- Whisk the peanut butter, soy, honey, lime juice, garlic, and a splash of water into a smooth, pourable sauce.
- Fry the tofu in the oil over medium-high until golden and crisp on all sides, about 6 minutes.
- Add the noodles and peanut sauce to the tofu and toss over low heat until everything is coated and hot.
- Pile into bowls and scatter the scallions and crushed peanuts over.
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About Tofu Peanut Noodles
Tofu peanut noodles are a plant-based riff on the peanut-sauced noodle dishes found across Thailand and the broader Southeast Asian noodle repertoire, built around flat rice noodles (he fen) and a creamy peanut dressing. The sauce is the anchor: peanut butter loosened with a splash of water and balanced by soy for salt, honey for a rounded sweetness, lime for acid, and raw garlic for bite. Whisked smooth and pourable, it clings to the wide ribbons of noodle so every strand carries the nutty, savory-sweet coating. It's the kind of bowl that tastes indulgent while quietly delivering a real hit of protein from the tofu and peanuts.
What sets this version apart is the treatment of the tofu. Rather than adding it soft, the cubes are pressed, patted dry, and fried in oil until golden and crisp on all sides, so they hold a textural contrast against the slippery noodles instead of melting into them. Tossing everything together over low heat warms the sauce without splitting it, and a final scatter of scallions and crushed peanuts adds fresh sharpness and crunch. It comes together in about twenty-five minutes, which makes it a genuinely easy weeknight dinner, and it's just as good at room temperature packed for lunch the next day.
Tofu Peanut Noodles: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Tofu Peanut Noodles?
A serving has about 755 calories — 29.9g protein, 75.6g carbs, 37.6g fat, 5.1g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 29.9g of protein, roughly 16% of its calories.
Is Tofu Peanut Noodles gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Soy sauce. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Tofu Peanut Noodles?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out honey, lime, garlic — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Tofu Peanut Noodles make?
This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.