Spicy Peanut Noodles

I really, really can't take credit for this--my cousin Clare made it quite a bit when we lived together. Still, it was always one of our favorite easy, delicious, vegetarian meals. Enjoy!

Spicy Peanut Noodles
recipe courtesy of Clare Eshenour

Ingredients

1. 1 pound thin spaghetti
2. 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
3. 1/2 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
4. 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon sugar
5. 6 tablespoons soy sauce
6. 1/4 cup water
7. 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
8. 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
9. 1 2-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped
10. 1 large garlic clove
11. 3 celery ribs, thinly sliced
12. 3/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems, plus garnish
13. Lime wedges, for serving

Directions

1. In a pot of boiling salted water, cook the spaghetti until tender. Drain and rinse under cold water until cooled. Drain well.
2. In a blender, puree the peanut butter with 6 tablespoons of the vinegar, 3 tablespoons of the sugar, the soy sauce, water, sesame oil, crushed red pepper, ginger and garlic. Transfer 1/2 cup of the peanut dressing to a bowl and toss with the noodles.
3. In another bowl, toss the celery with the cilantro and the remaining 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1 teaspoon of sugar.
4. Transfer the noodles to bowls and drizzle with the remaining peanut dressing. Top with the celery and serve with lime wedges.

Wine pairing: Gewurztraminer--it picks up the heat of the crushed red pepper really nicely!