Lifesaver Noodles — With Cabbage & Carrots
February 1st, 2015

If you don’t mind 10 to 15 minutes of prep work, these noodles might  save some hungry souls in your home, too. They can be dressed  with almost every  kind of semi-neglected vegetables in your fridge drawer, but the cabbage & carrot version is so good, this bowl has become  the prime reason for me to drag home  a head of pointed cabbage.

lifesaver noodles

This noodle bowl has been a long-time  regular on our table, in different variations. It is super quick to prepare and it’s a meal,  that  not only feeds two hungry souls, but  leaves you really satisfied and happy. Yes, noodles can do that. And just writing about them makes me crave them again, even though a pot of the most fragrant homemade chicken soup is waiting for me tonight… Super important: the final seasoning touch with a mix of soy sauce, black rice vinegar and dark sesame oil, so don’t skimp on it!

lifesaver noodles

Start by preparing the (washed) vegetables: Peel and cut the carrot into fine julienne stripes, half or quarter the cabbage  and  cut it into fine stripes (you will need 1/4 to 1/3 of one head), peel and cut the onion lengthwise into thin slices.  Cut the spring onions into rings (white and green parts), finely chop the chile pepper, coarsely chop the peanuts, then peel and grate ginger and garlic cloves. Lastly chop the cilantro leaves  (you may want to keep a few  leaves whole for final decoration).

lifesaver noodles

Meanwhile bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the water and cook the noodles according to the packaging instructions. Drain in a colander. I rinse them  generously with cold water (considered a  sacrilege in Italian pasta cooking!) to prevent clumping and minimize further cooking.

Heat a wok or large frying pan and add  2-3 tablespoons of peanut oil, before sautéing the sliced onions  until lightly golden. Add carrots and cabbage and stir-fry until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in  spring onion  rings  (optionally reserve some for the finishing touch), chili, ginger and garlic and sear for another minute or two.

lifesaver noodles

Toss in cooked noodles and stir until well combined. Season to taste with soy sauce, black rice vinegar and dark  sesame oil  (seasoning  is key to this kind of noodle dishes, so don’t be too shy!).

Serve  in bowls. Top generously with chopped cilantro, spring onion rings and peanuts. I always put soy sauce, black rice vinegar, roasted sesame oil and chili oil on the table, so  everybody can help himself  to adapt the noodles  to their liking.

lifesaver noodles

Lifesaver Noodles

Recipe source: own creation

Preparation & cooking: 20-25 min.

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Ingredients (for 2 bowls):

1 large carrot

1/4 to 1/3 of one head pointed cabbage

1 onion

3-4 spring onions

~1/2-1 large red chile pepper

3-4 tbsp peanuts (salted or not)

4-5 cm (~2 in) of fresh ginger

1-2 garlic cloves (optional)

1/2 bunch of fresh cilantro

125-175 g Mie noodles or Chinese egg noodles

2-3 tbsp peanut oil

2-3 tbsp soy sauce

2-3 tbsp black rice vinegar

1-2 tbsp dark sesame oil

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