Healthy Pad Thai

I have a small to moderately-sized obsession with chicken Pad Thai. One time, I ordered it from Noodles and Company and they gave me shrimp and I cried. I think it was also during finals in midwifery school, so trust me, that was a normal emotional response.

Anyways, I try to follow a low(er) carb diet. I am fine with gluten and all that, but I have found that eating lots of carbs (like pastas or bread) makes me tired and sluggish. I still eat fruit, I still eat whole-grain, sprouted toast (Ezekial bread 4 lyfe), but overall, I try to minimize carbz. So, a sad absence from my beloved Pad Thai was noted.

UNTIL I FOUND THIS RECIPE!!!!!! Zoooooooodles are my new fave. I've had a spiralizer for a year or so and never used it. Well, I finally did and I'm so happy, but be careful because that sucker is SHARP. This zoodle Pad Thai is SO good and full of flavor that I don't even miss the noodles.  Note that it doesn't have bean sprouts or egg, which are pretty traditional in Pad Thai. So, maybe this isn't technically Pad Thai. I'm not an expert, homies, I just like good food.

Healthy Thai Peanut Chicken and Zucchini Noodles

1 garlic clove, minced
 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced 
4 tablespoons of peanut butter 
1 lime, zested and juiced 
2 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium! I used 1 tbsp of coconut aminos and 1 of low sodium soy sauce)
¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes 
2 tablespoons of canola oil (I used EVOO here and it was just fine) 
2 cups chicken breast, cooked and shredded 
3 zucchini, spiral sliced 
2 large carrots, spiral sliced 
1 red pepper, spiral sliced 
⅓ cup of fresh cilantro, chopped
 ¼ cup of green onions, diced 
chopped unsalted roasted peanuts and lime wedges, optional as a garnish

What to Do:
1. Add the garlic, ginger, peanut butter, lime juice and zest, soy sauce and red pepper flakes to a small bowl and mix together. 
2. To a large frying pan, add your oil on high heat. 
3. Add the zucchini, carrots and bell peppers to the pan and cook until just wilted, 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
4. Add in the chicken, sauce, cilantro and green onions and toss together until all warmed through. 
5. Garnish with sesame seeds and wedges of lime if desired.

*According to the recipe, it serves 6. I think 4 and that's with relatively small portions, but maybe this lady isn't as hungry as me? Idk. Also, I'm gonna try this with powdered PB next time to cut down on some of the fat, but seriously, this is signif better for you than takeout. Eat it, love it, don't cry when your takeout order is wrong.

<3
S