Simple 7-Ingredient Recipe

Here is a recipe for a savory, satisfying dish that uses staples found in almost every kitchen. It balances salty, sweet, savory, and spicy flavors perfectly.

The Dish: "Velvet Thunder" Peanut Noodles

This dish transforms basic pasta into a rich, creamy, restaurant-style noodle dish in the time it takes to boil water.

• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Cook time: 10 minutes
• Total time: 15 minutes
• Servings: 2

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The 7 Ingredients

(Note: Water for boiling pasta is not included in the count)

1. Spaghetti (or any long noodle like linguine or fettuccine) - 8 oz
2. Peanut Butter (Creamy is best, but crunchy works too) - 1/3 cup
3. Soy Sauce - 3 tablespoons
4. Garlic - 2 cloves, minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder)
5. Honey (or brown sugar) - 1 tablespoon
6. Vinegar (Rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or white vinegar) - 1 tablespoon
7. Red Pepper Flakes (or Sriracha/hot sauce) - 1 teaspoon (adjust to taste)

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Instructions

1. Boil the Pasta Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Crucial Step: Before you drain the pasta, scoop out ½ cup of the starchy boiling water and set it aside. You will need this for the sauce!

2. Whisk the Sauce While the pasta boils, grab a medium mixing bowl. Combine the peanut butter, soy sauce, minced garlic, honey, vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Whisk them together. It will look thick and clumpy at first—that is normal.

3. The "Velvet" Transformation Pour the hot, reserved pasta water into your peanut mixture a little at a time, whisking constantly. The hot water will melt the peanut butter and turn the clumpy mixture into a smooth, glossy, velvet-like sauce.

4. Toss and Coat Drain your pasta and immediately dump it into the bowl with the sauce. Use tongs to toss the noodles until every strand is coated in the sauce. The heat from the pasta will help thicken the sauce further.

5. Serve Serve immediately. If you happen to have extra toppings lying around (like chopped green onions, crushed peanuts, or sesame seeds), feel free to add them, but the dish is delicious just as is!