Indonesian-Style Vegetable Stew with Rice Noodles

Characteristic of certain Indonesian vegetable dishes are colorful vegetables (in this case, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and bell pepper), this stew is enveloped in a rich, spicy peanut sauce and embellished with rice noodles. This has so much going for it that you need only a simple salad to complete the meal.

Serves: 6

Sauce:

• 1/3 cup natural-style peanut butter
• 1/4 cup hot water
• 1 tbsp natural granulated sugar
• 1 tsp Sriracha or other hot sauce
• 2 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 4 oz bundle fine Asian rice noodles
• 1 tbsp neutral vegetable oil, such as safflower
• 1 large onion, quartered and thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small fresh hot green chili pepper, seeded and minced
• 1 medium broccoli crown, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced on a diagonal
• 1/2 small head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into narrow 2-inch strips
• 2…