Peanut Noodle Salad (America's Test Kitchen)

Made with a couple of adjustments. If you prefer natural peanut butter, add 1 tablespoon brown sugar to the dressing. Use a mild hot sauce, such as Frank's. If you use a hotter hot sauce, such as Tabasco, reduce the amount to 1 teaspoon.

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 1  lb spaghetti or 1  lb linguine
• 1  tablespoon salt
• 3  tablespoons  toasted sesame oil
• 3⁄4 cup chunky peanut butter
• 6  tablespoons soy sauce
• 3  tablespoons white vinegar
• 1  tablespoon  grated fresh ginger
• 1  tablespoon  hot sauce
• 1  cucumber, peeled, quartered lengthwise, seeded, and sliced thin
• 1  red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch strips
• 1⁄3 cup  chopped fresh cilantro or 1⁄3 cup parsley
• 4  green onions, thinly sliced (optional)

Directions

1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add pasta and salt to boiling water and cook until al dente. Reserve ¾ cup cooking water. Drain pasta in colander, rinse with cold water until cool, drain once more, and transfer to large bowl. Add sesame oil and toss to coat.
2. Whisk peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, hot sauce, and 6 tablespoons pasta cooking water in medium bowl until smooth. Add dressing, cucumber, bell pepper, and cilantro to pasta and toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to adjust consistency. Serve.
3. Oil-coated pasta, dressing, and vegetables can be refrigerated in separate airtight containers for 2 days. Bring ingredients to room temperature before tossing together. Add warm water to thin as needed.