dear fellow crumbsnatchers,
i'm nuts about working sporting events but it usually means a lot of early mornings and late nights. there never seems to be enough time or energy for a hot meal, let alone a meal that is healthy. think about it. you've spent 16+ hours working in the elements and all you want to do is get back to the hotel, shower and scarf down a big garden salad? not me! it seems i always want pizza, wings or burgers. but what i want to eat is not what i need to eat, especially while working events.
four years ago i was diagnosed with type 1.5 diabetes, also known as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (lada). this means i have characteristics of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. how is that possible? i blame genetics. as an autoimmune disease, it isn’t reversible with changes in diet and lifestyle like type 2 diabetes, but diet and lifestyle are necessary in preventing other complications.
i've been in a serious relationship with food for as long as i can remember. i'm in love with food. my diagnosis immediately changed my status to single and i found myself swiping left and right as if i was searching for a tinder date with different foods. chinese takeout, swipe left. chicken wings, swipe right. everything bagels, swipe left. you get the idea. then try to eat the right things when your schedule is out of whack and it can get frustrating real fast. happy hours are a social norm in my industry and now my worst nightmare. sorry, i can't eat that. sorry, i can't drink that. sorry, i'd rather eat than drink my carbs. do i eat before or leave early? how or where can i take my medication discreetly? while temporarily living with a friend's family a few years ago, she opened my eyes to meal planning and macro counting. better yet, she had all the tools and tips to do it while traveling, even if it meant buying a cooler than converts into an oven or ordering groceries upon arrival.
there is no sporting event like the super bowl. i have been blessed to work this event multiple times with an incredible team of people. but it also comes with it's many food challenges. at the last super bowl, my friends from san francisco suggested we go to the local bj's restaurant and brewhouse while we still had the opportunity to enjoy a hot meal. bj's is best known for their pizza and pizookies but i opted for their enlightened spicy peanut chicken with soba noodles and it was an instant swipe right! even better, they had a buy one, get one to-go half off special and these noodle bowls became the key to surviving 14 days working the super bowl. our hotel had a full-size fridge and kitchenette, so between eating free hot breakfast at the hotel, packing lunches and snacks, and ordering six of these to-go soba noodle bowls, i conquered my super bowl food challenge.
i've been craving this delicious noodle bowl that for some unknown reason doesn't spike my glucose levels like a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. and with covid-19 restaurant restrictions, i decided to recreate this dish at home. many of the ingredients are staples in our home and a very easy dish to liven up your meal prep.
spicy peanut chicken soba noodles recipe
crumb confession: the pastabilities are endless. what i absolutely love about this recipe is that it can easily be modified for a variety of dietary restrictions or preferences. not all buckwheat soba noodles are gluten-free so be sure to check the packaging. i also didn't know soy sauce wasn't gluten-free until a few months ago but you can easily substitute with tamari or coconut aminos. if you don't like spice, skip the sriracha. i double the sriracha to get that heat that makes your crown sweat but go with what heat level is best for you. if i run out of sriracha, i can easily substitute with gochujang, a savory, sweet and spicy fermented korean chili paste, that is always in my fridge. no meat, no problem. try tofu or shrimp. want more veggies? consider adding scallions, radishes, cucumbers, bell peppers, sugar snap peas or shredded red cabbage. this is a tasty recipe where you can explore your inner chef creativity!
cuisine: thai
prep time: 25 minutes
cook time: 25 minutes
serves: 4-6
ingredients
sauce:
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 tbs sesame oil
1/2 tbs soy sauce
1 tbs rice vinegar
1 tbs brown sugar
2 tsp sriracha sauce, to taste
4 garlic cloves, finely minced
2 tsp fresh ginger, finely minced
1/2 cup boiling water
noodles:
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
2 broccoli crowns, cut into florets
2 large carrots, shredded or julienned
1 tbs roasted sesame seeds
8 oz. buckwheat soba noodles
1-3 tbs vegetable, canola or grapeseed oil
garnish:
1/4 cup roasted peanuts
1/8 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 lime, cut into wedges
1 jalapeño, thinly sliced, optional
directions
prepare sauce. in a liquid measuring cup, add peanut butter. add all remaining sauce ingredients except hot water. whisk to combine.
add hot water to sauce mixture and whisk. if you prefer a thinner sauce, add more hot water. set aside.
fill large pot with water and bring to a boil.
in a large skillet or wok, add oil and stir-fry vegetables on medium high heat. i like to cook the carrots for 1-2 minutes and transfer to a large mixing bowl. then i cook the broccoli until crisp tender, usually 3-4 minutes, and add to carrots. set aside.
stir-fry chicken pieces. prevent crowding in the pan and cook in 2-3 small batches until browned and cooked through. add to vegetables. set aside.
cook soba noodles according to package directions. it's important to stir the noodles as they cook so they don't clump.
drain cooked noodles in colander and rinse with water to remove starch. i like to rinse in hot or warm water to keep my noodles warm but cold water works too.
toss noodles with vegetables, chicken and peanut sauce.
add garnishes and serve.
some like 'em hot, some like 'em cold. i like 'em warm! warm enough where the sauce doesn't act like noodle glue and the reheated veggies don't get too soft. when meal prepping, i always keep the nuts in a separate container or else they get soggy. and the nuts in this dish are the crunchy contrast and provide much needed contrast to all the other textures in this dish. what are you waiting for? send noods now!
love and crumbs,
christina & gypsie
p.s. did you make this recipe? be sure to drop us a crumb on instagram at @crumbsforgypsie and hashtag it #crumbsforgypsie.
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