Mediocre Peanut Noodles with Shredded Chicken and Vegetables

Monday, I was working and trying to figure out what to cook for dinner, when Yahoo came to my rescue with their weeknight menu. Thanks, Yahoo! This one looked yummy, especially since I was kind of craving pasta, but wanted something a bit different.

Peanut Noodles with Shredded Chicken and Vegetables

Ingredients:

1. 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2. 1/2 cup smooth natural peanut butter
3. 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
4. 2 teaspoons minced garlic
5. 1 1/2 teaspoons chile-garlic sauce, or to taste (see Ingredient note)
6. 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
7. 8 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti
8. 1 (12 ounce) bag fresh vegetable medley, such as carrots, broccoli, snow peas

Cooking directions:

1. Put a large pot of water on to boil for cooking pasta.
2. Meanwhile, place chicken in a skillet or saucepan and add enough water to cover; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer gently until cooked through and no longer pink in the middle, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. When cool enough to handle, shred into bite-size strips.
3. Whisk peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic, chile-garlic sauce and ginger in a large bowl.
4. Cook pasta in the boiling water until not quite tender, about 1 minute less than specified in the package directions. Add vegetables and cook until the pasta and vegetables are just tender, 1 minute more. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Rinse the pasta and vegetables with cool water to refresh. Stir the reserved cooking liquid into the peanut sauce; add the pasta, vegetables and chicken; toss well to coat. Serve warm or chilled.

Yield: 6 servings

My rating: Meh. I mean, it was fine, but not really yummy. 2 1/2 stars out of 5.

Maya’s rating: Is there anything else in the fridge I can have for dinner? Yes? Yay! Thanks, Mama! 1 star.  If you’re lucky.

Py’s rating: He ate two servings, and he said he enjoyed it, but he didn’t protest when I put the leftovers down the sink rather than saving them for leftovers. I’m guessing he ate two servings because he was very hungry. I’m guessing 2 1/2 to 3 stars.