Healthy Noodles with Crunchy Cricket Croutons – the new amazing recipe that you will love

Light, nourishing noodles tossed with fresh vegetables and sesame dressing, topped with crispy cricket flour croutons for a protein-packed, sustainable crunch. Perfect for a wholesome lunch or dinner.

Difficulty: Easy
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Serves: 2–3 portions

Ingredients:
For the noodles:

• 200g whole-grain or soba noodles
• 1 medium carrot, julienned
• 1 small zucchini, julienned
• ½ red bell pepper, sliced thin
• 100g edamame beans (cooked and shelled)
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
• 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

For the cricket croutons:

• 50g cricket flour
• 100g wholemeal flour (or oat flour)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp paprika
• Pinch of salt
• 50ml water (add gradually, as needed)

Instructions:

Make the croutons:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
2. In a bowl, mix cricket flour, wholemeal flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and olive oil.
3. Add water gradually until the dough comes together (not sticky).
4. Roll the dough out to about ½ cm thickness, cut into small cubes.
5. Place cubes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 12–15 minutes, until golden and crispy. Let cool.

Prepare the noodles:

1. Cook noodles according to package instructions, then rinse under cold water.
2. In a large pan or wok, heat sesame oil and sauté ginger lightly.
3. Add carrot, zucchini, and bell pepper, stir-fry for 2–3 minutes (keep them crunchy).
4. Stir in cooked noodles, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and sesame seeds. Mix well.
5. Add edamame beans and toss everything together.

Serve:
Divide noodles into bowls, top generously with cricket croutons, sprinkle extra sesame seeds, and enjoy your sustainable, healthy meal.

Tips & Twists:

• Add a spoonful of peanut butter to the dressing for a creamy satay-style flavor.
• Replace zucchini with broccoli florets for more variety.
• Use chili flakes or sriracha if you like it spicy.
• Croutons can also be used as a salad topping for extra crunch.
  🦗 Try our new cricket flour croutons – [Link internal]
  🌱 Discover more sustainable noodle recipes – [Link external]

Why Use Cricket Flour?

Cricket flour is an excellent source of sustainable protein, making it a smart and eco-friendly choice for modern recipes. Packed with essential nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids, it supports muscle growth, boosts energy, and contributes to overall well-being. Unlike traditional protein sources, cricket flour has a minimal environmental impact, requiring less land, water, and feed. Its mild, nutty flavor blends seamlessly into baked goods, snacks, and even savory dishes, adding a nutritional boost without altering taste. Whether you’re an athlete, a health enthusiast, or simply curious, cricket flour is a versatile and forward-thinking ingredient worth exploring.

Back in the 1990s, the idea of eating insects in Europe was more of a joke than a serious proposal. Crickets were associated with faraway countries, not dinner plates in Paris or Berlin. But over the past three decades, attitudes have started to shift.

Driven by environmental concerns and the search for sustainable protein sources, crickets are slowly entering the European food scene. Unlike traditional livestock, they require less water, space, and feed, and they emit far fewer greenhouse gases. That makes them attractive to a generation more conscious of their ecological footprint.