Here we have my list of ingredients. Red pepper flakes, sesame oil, soy sauce, creamy Jif peanut butter, apple cider vinegar, sugar, ginger, scallions (whiter parts only), rice noodles, baking soda, and chicken (not invisible, just not pictured). The proportions you get from the recipe linked above are largely fine but you'll likely end up adding more peanut butter at the end. Regarding the peanut butter, use any kind you like as long as it's not that natural stuff that separates. For this you want the emulsified stuff. Trust me..or don't and repent later.
The reason we have baking soda in this recipe is to treat the chicken in a way that is referred to as "velveting". Ever wonder how/why the meats you get at Chinese restaurants are always so tender and why your home stir fry isn't like that? That's cause you don't velvet the chicken. So, here's the super secret trick. After cutting up the meat, toss it with about a teaspoon of baking soda and let it marinate for 15 minutes. Before cooking it, rinse off the baking soda thoroughly and pat it dry. That's it. Baking soda as a meat tenderizer. Who'd a thunk it?
While the chicken is doing its thing, make and drain the rice noodles. Now let's make the sauce. In a bowl put your peanut butter...
Then soy sauce and water. My preference is Kikkoman, which you can get in almost any grocery store. Your other common option is La Choy which, in my opinion, is La Gross.
Now add your apple cider vinegar...
Then sugar and red pepper flakes. Now carefully whisk it all together. It will look like a horrible slurry but that's OK. Don't worry about it. It won't stay that way once it's in the pan.
With the sesame oil, sautee up your aromatics, ie. ginger and scallions...
Then set aside. This is common for stir fry cooking. Making aromatics, meat, and veggies separate then combining with sauce at the last moment.
Toss the chicken in the wok to cook...
Once it's mostly cooked, add the ginger and green onion back in.
Give it a few stirs then mix in the sauce and cook it for a minute or two to get everything nicely mixed together and cooked through. At this point, stop and taste the sauce. If you want to add more peanut butter, do it. I always do. Usually another couple tablespoons at this point.
Add in the rice noodles and toss to coat...
...and there you have it! Thai peanut noodles with chicken. Delicious, and packed with protein.
Happy National Peanut Butter Lover's Day!
L'Chaim!