Description
This easy, healthy take on Instant Pot Pad Thai is loaded with colorful veggies and uses ingredients you already have on hand! Done in about 30 minutes and tastes as good as takeout. Vegan and gluten-free option. A flavor-packed weeknight dinner that's a hit with kids, too! (Note that this recipe isn't traditional, but is a delicious stand in using accessible ingredients when the craving strikes!)
Ingredients
- 4 oz whole wheat spaghetti (or brown rice spaghetti for gluten-free*) + 4 cups water
- 1/4 cup natural peanut butter
- 5 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tbsp lime juice (or rice vinegar)
- 1 tbsp sriracha (or 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes)
- 1 tsp minced fresh ginger (or 1/2 tsp dried ginger))
- 1 large clove garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fish sauce (optional but recommended for more authentic flavor)
- 1/2 head green or red cabbage, shredded (or 4 cups pre-shredded coleslaw mix)
- 1 large carrot, finely chopped or shredded
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 2 cups snow peas
- 3 green onions, tender white and green parts only, chopped
- Chopped fresh cilantro and salted peanuts, for garnish
Instructions
- Break noodles in half and arrange in Instant Pot in a crisscross manner to avoid clumping. (See notes at the bottom for stovetop option**.) Pour water over noodles. Secure lid and move steam release valve to Sealing. Select Manual/Pressure Cook to cook on high pressure for 2 minutes. While noodles cook, in a bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, maple syrup, lime juice, Sriracha, ginger, garlic, and fish sauce and set aside.
- When the cooking cycle is complete, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, then move the steam release valve to Venting to release any remaining pressure.
- When the floating valve drops, press Cancel and remove lid. Drain noodles through colander, rinsing with cold water to remove starch and stop cooking. Rinse and dry insert and return to Instant Pot.
- Press Sauté and pour peanut sauce into pot. Add cabbage, carrot, pepper, and snow peas and stir well. Sauté until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in noodles and green onions until everything is heated through.
- Serve warm with cilantro and peanuts on top. Dish is best served right away, but leftovers can be stored in an air-tight container in fridge for 5 days.
Notes
*If using brown rice spaghetti, cook on high pressure for 0 minutes, then let pressure naturally release for 8 minutes before draining.
If you'd like to add scrambled eggs or shrimp, use the sauté function to cook in a splash of olive oil. Once set or cooked through, transfer to a plate and proceed with the rest of the recipe. You can also add 1 cup edamame for extra protein!
Stovetop option: Cook noodles in a pot according to package directions. Whisk together sauce. Drain and rinse noodles and keep them in the strainer while you add the sauce to the sauce pot along with the veggies. Sauté for about five minutes then add noodles and green onions.
Recipe lightly adapted and reprinted with permission from The Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook, by Megan Gilmore, copyright © 2018 Megan Gilmore. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.