Leftovers are one my favorite things in this world! There isn’t much that beats cooking once and eating twice, right?
This healthy leftover noodle recipe for Spicy Vegan Peanut Pasta Salad uses leftover spaghetti noodles and lots of fresh veggies. I like to make this Vegan Pasta Salad the day after I make spaghetti because I inevitably end up with too many noodles.
And for years I had a hard time telling when my spaghetti noodles were actually done. I was told very early on (not sure by whom) to throw my pasta against the wall to determine if it’s ready. Apparently, if it sticks, it’s done. Have you ever thrown your spaghetti against the wall to test if it’s ready? And, like me, did you ever wonder if this was actually a valid test or a make-work cleaning project?
I stopped throwing my spaghetti against the wall years ago, not because I thought it didn’t work, but because it was a pain to clean up. But these days, and after 30+ years of pasta making, I can pretty much tell if my pasta is ready by its texture when I taste it. Have you heard the term al dente ? It essentially means your spaghetti is ready; it’s a little tender but there’s some resistance. In other words, it’s not tough and it’s not mushy. But I am convinced knowing if your pasta is ready is an acquired skill that takes years to master.
Click here to to find out if the spaghetti/wall test is a myth?
Which type of Spaghetti to use
Then there’s the question of which spaghetti noodles to use. Whole wheat takes a long time to cook and personally, I find it a bit too dense. I prefer to use “smart pasta” because it cooks faster than the whole wheat but you still get 4X as much fibre than if you ate white pasta. Although it’s not quite as healthy as the whole wheat, you are still getting that fibre. And if you’re not a fan of whole wheat, it’s a good alternative.
Read more about smart pasta vs. whole wheat pasta HERE!
Leftover Spaghetti Noodles
I love that my leftover spaghetti noodles get a new life with this salad. And that is yet another beautiful thing about this leftover noodle dish – not having to eat the same dish twice. This pasta salad is fresh, full of veggies, vegan and most importantly, quick and easy to make! So, if you are wondering what to make with leftover pasta, give this recipe a try! It is also great for your lunch bag.
Enjoy!
Follow my Vegan board on Pinterest:
If you are looking for other leftover recipes, you may also like:
Caesar Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe
Leftover Cranberry Sauce Cornbread Muffins
My Amazon Recommendations (affiliate links)
Spicy Peanut Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Dressing:
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp ginger /minced
- 3 cloves garlic /minced or use jarred minced garlic
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp sriracha sauce
- ¼ cup water
Salad:
- 4-6 cups cooked spaghetti noodles (or you can substitute almost any other noodles)
- 1 cup grated carrots
- 1 cucumber chopped
- 1 red bell pepper /thinly sliced into strips
- ½ cup green onion /sliced
- ¼ cup cilantro /chopped
- ½ cup unsalted peanuts
Garnish:
- cilantro springs
- unsalted peanuts
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame seeds, olive oil, sriracha sauce, water, minced ginger, minced garlic and brown sugar.
- Combine cooked and cooled pasta with sliced vegetables, cilantro and peanuts. Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables and mix well.
- Garnish with additional chopped cilantro and peanuts, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
This post is part of the Meatless Monday Link up with Confessions of a Mother Runner and A Whisk and 2 Wands
What an excellent way to use leftovers, especially noodles.
Thanks Sue! Yes, LUV leftovers!
What an excellent way to use leftovers, especially noodles.
Thanks Sue! Yes, LUV leftovers!
How great does this look?! I like to do something similar with zucchini noodles 😀
I love the idea of zucchini noodles – even healthier!
How great does this look?! I like to do something similar with zucchini noodles 😀
I love the idea of zucchini noodles – even healthier!
This is a great way to use leftover noodles, which usually get thrown away at my house. I always seem to cook just the right amount of sauce but way too many noodles. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks – yes, I had the same issue!
This is a great way to use leftover noodles, which usually get thrown away at my house. I always seem to cook just the right amount of sauce but way too many noodles. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks – yes, I had the same issue!
Spicy peanut salads are one of my faves. I love that you can enjoy them hot or cold
Hi Deborah,
Thanks- me too!
Im the left over king! I always cook for leftovers, great way to save money and time. This looks amazing.
Thanks Patrick – I hope you enjoy it!
Looks delicious! Do you think I could substitute soba noodles for the spaghetti?
Hi Mindy- I don’t see why you couldn’t! Really, any noodles would work-enjoy!
This sounds amazing! I love peanut
Great flavor. I added cherry tomatoes to the salad and a bit of sesame oil to the dressing. Will definitely be making this again.
Hi Tiia- glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for stopping by to comment- I love getting feedback ?Terri
I have a bunch of leftover pasta that I’m trying to figure out what to do with for dinner tomorrow and can’t wait to try this recipe. Would you have any suggestions for what to eat along with it as a side?
Honestly, we eat this as a meal! But if you leave out the peanuts, it’s a great side salad with bbq pork or chicken ?
Love the flavors of this vegan peanut salad pasta! The peanut gives such a savory nutty flavor!
Thanks- we love it around here too!
I have leftover noodles in the fridge. Now I know what to make with them!