Broccoli Noodles with Peanut Sauce

Broccoli Noodles with Peanut Sauce is a nourishing vegetarian main dish meal that serves two to three.  The red pepper flakes make it hot and spicy, but can be left out for a milder version.
Tonight, I made it for my husband and I with ramen noodles, but the soba (buckwheat) noodles taste good too, are a healthier choice, and are gluten-free.
Enjoy!

Broccoli Noodles with Peanut Sauce

Ingredients:

8 oz. dry ramen, or soba (buckwheat) noodles

4 cups fresh broccoli florets

1 cup canned garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained
Salt and pepper, to taste
Red pepper flakes, to taste (optional)

Peanut Sauce:

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup orange juice

Juice of 1/2 lime

2 tsp. maple syrup

1 Tbsp. soy sauce, or tamari sauce

1 tsp rice vinegar

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp. fresh ginger, minced

Instructions:

1. Cook noodles according to package directions.
2. While the noodles are cooking, blend all the peanut sauce ingredients together.
3. In the last 2 minutes of cooking time, add broccoli and garbanzo beans to pot of noodles, and continue to cook.  Drain.
4. In a large bowl, combine peanut sauce with drained noodles, broccoli, and garbanzo beans.
5. Season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.

Kitchen/Nutrition Note: Adding orange, lime, or lemon juice (Vitamin C) to bean dishes, helps the body absorb iron and protein more easily.