The Secret Street

🕒 Prep time: 10 minutes
🍽 Servings: 2
🌱 Type: Vegan

There’s something wildly comforting about a good noodle stir-fry — quick, satisfying, and endlessly customisable. Whether you’re throwing together a weeknight dinner or meal-prepping for the week, this simple homemade stir-fry sauce is a total game changer. It’s sweet, tangy, nutty, and just the right amount of spicy.

And the best part? You probably have most of the ingredients in your kitchen already!

✨ The Sauce

This is the star of the show. Whisk together the following:

• 2 tbsp soy sauce (If you’ve got both dark and light soy sauce, use 1 tbsp of each for depth. If not, just use what you have!)
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp maple syrup (or brown sugar if you prefer a deeper sweetness)
• 1 tbsp fresh grated ginger (or 1 tsp ground ginger if you’re in a pinch)
• ½ tsp chilli flakes (adjust to taste)
• 1 tbsp peanut butter (smooth or crunchy both work—go with your heart)

This combo hits all the right notes: salty, tangy, sweet, spicy, and creamy.

🍜 What to Stir-Fry

Here’s the basic template:

• 200g noodles – ramen, rice noodles, udon, soba… whatever you love or have on hand.
• Veggies – think bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, pak choi, mushrooms, snap peas. Go colourful!
• Protein of choice – tofu, tempeh, edamame, or even a fried egg if you’re not keeping it fully vegan.

🔥 How to Cook It

1. Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. In a hot pan or wok, add a splash of oil and stir-fry your veggies until just tender but still vibrant.
3. Add your protein and cook until golden or heated through.
4. Toss in the noodles, pour over your sauce, and stir well to coat everything evenly.
5. Let everything sizzle together for a couple of minutes until it’s glossy and delicious.

🌱 Tips & Twists

• Add a splash of water if the sauce gets too thick.
• Garnish with sesame seeds, chopped peanuts, fresh coriander, or spring onions.
• Want it extra spicy? Add a dash of sriracha or a spoon of chilli crisp.