Simple 7-Ingredient Recipe

Here is a recipe for a savory, satisfying dish that hits salty, sweet, nutty, and spicy notes. It uses ingredients found in almost every kitchen cupboard.

The Dish: "Midnight Dragon Noodles"

This is the ultimate comfort food. It transforms basic dry pasta into a restaurant-quality stir-fry using a creamy, savory peanut sauce.

• 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 is assumed)

1. Dried Spaghetti (or Instant Ramen bricks, seasoning discarded) – 6 to 8 oz
2. Peanut Butter (Creamy works best) – 3 tablespoons
3. Soy Sauce – 3 tablespoons
4. Brown Sugar (or Honey) – 1 tablespoon
5. Garlic – 2 cloves, minced (or ½ tsp garlic powder)
6. Vinegar (Rice vinegar, Apple Cider, or White vinegar) – 1 tablespoon
7. Red Pepper Flakes (or Chili Oil/Sriracha) – 1 teaspoon (adjust for spice preference)

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Instructions

1. Boil the Pasta Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add your spaghetti (or ramen noodles). Cook according to the package instructions until al dente (firm to the bite).

• Crucial Step: Before draining, scoop out about ¼ cup of the starchy pasta boiling water and set it aside. Drain the noodles.

2. Whisk the Sauce While the pasta boils, make the sauce. In a small bowl, combine the peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Whisk vigorously.

• Tip: If the peanut butter is stiff, microwave the mixture for 15 seconds to soften it up.

3. Combine and Emulsify Pour the sauce into the warm, empty pot you used to boil the pasta (set heat to low). Add the reserved pasta water to the sauce and stir until it turns into a smooth, glossy liquid.

4. Toss and Serve Add the cooked noodles back into the pot. Toss them with tongs or chopsticks for about 1 minute until the sauce thickens and clings to every strand of pasta.

Serve immediately.

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Chef’s Note: If you happen to have green onions, sesame seeds, or a crushed handful of peanuts lying around, they make a great garnish—but the dish is delicious without them!