Skip to main content

Sesame Noodles with Tofu & Bok Choy

This is a generic master recipe which can be used with many different noodles and vegetables.  Tofu (soy) combined with whole wheat or buckwheat noodles, for example, can provide quite a bit of complete protein, making this a hearty flexetarian meal. A fun, flavorful, healthful mean for somebody's birthday.

You can certainly use vegetable broth or water, if you prefer a complete vegetarian affair.


1/2 lb whole wheat vermicelli (or angel hair) pasta, cut in half, or other favorite Asian noodles

1 Tbsp butter plus 1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, sliced
1/2 lb mushrooms, slightly chopped (I used organic Maitake from California)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2-inch fresh ginger, minced
1 tub firm tofu cubed

2 Tbsp hoisin sauce
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp sesame oil
2 Tbsp red miso
1 qt beef broth

4 baby boy chow, quartered lengthwise
1/3 cup shredded carrots

garnish:
toasted sesame seeds
crushed red pepper flakes
a few leaves fresh cilantro

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and salt generously for the noodles. Add noodles and cook, stirring often until noodles are just undercooked, about 7 minutes. Drain when ready.

Meanwhile, sauté the onion in the butter and oil for about 5 minutes.  Add the mushrooms and cook another 5 minutes.  
Add the garlic and ginger and cook another 2 minutes.

In a small bowl, whisk together the hoisin, soy sauce, sesame oil and miso with a bit of the beef broth, enough to be pourable.  
Add the tofu to the pot along with the remaining beef broth and hoisin mixture.  Bring to a gentle boil.
Gently fold in the bok choy and cook until just softened. 
Add the noodles and the carrots and heat through.  
Transfer to bowls and garnish as desired.


Serves 4.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Umami Beef Short Ribs Samin Nosrat

This is the penultimate prep for beef short ribs.  Based on the superb documentary by Samin Nosrat, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, this is the most umami rib dish you will ever have.  Its the combination of red miso and soy sauce that marinates and flavors the beef - give it a long time to work right - that means overnight in the fridge; it's worth the planning ahead. 6 beef short ribs on the bone, about 3-4 lb 1 large sweet yellow onion, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 1 jalapeño pepper, minced 4 cloves garlic, halved Marinade: 1/4 cup red miso 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup pale dry sherry or Mirin rice wine 1 Tbsp sesame oil 1 Tbsp honey 2 cloves garlic, minced Salt the ribs generously with coarse salt and let rest overnight in the refrigerator in a resealable plastic bag. Whisk together the marinade.   Pour into the plastic bag and allow to marinate on the counter for about 2-3 hours, or again overnight in the refrigerator. Preheat...

Vinaigrette Erique 2.0

From the archives:  Making a really, really good vinaigrette has been a craft in my family, and in my in-law family for generations. My late uncle, Jeannot, and Father-in-law, Bernard, (both best of friends) were each geniuses at the vinaigrette. And they both taught me. I have to say my siblings along with my sisters and brothers in-law do really now carry on the tradition as I strive to as well.  In our family cookbook "Cuisine Encore" I published my go-to vinaigrette - a basic version taught to me by my French mother, Monique.  It's great, yet I have been looking for something slightly more modern and upbeat.  So I merged Asian rice vinegar into the mix along with fresh (not powdered) garlic with the Dijon mustard, and toned down the salt. Make it your own. I now have what I think is an even better basic vinaigrette, today. Talk to you tomorrow! 1/4 cup cider vinegar 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar 1 generous tsp Dijon mustard 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 cup ca...

Baked Grouper with Mushroom Wine Sauce

Fresh fish baked in a creamy mushroom sauce is always a rich reward after a hard day's work. 3/4 lb grouper (or other favorite white fish) cut into 2 portions Sauce: 2 Tbsp butter 1/2 cup onion, very finely diced 2 cloves garlic, minced through a press 1/3 cup pale dry sherry or dry white wine 1/3 cup half and half or cream 1 Tbsp corn starch 1 4-oz can mushrooms, drained and liquid reserved Preheat oven to 375F.  Sauté the onions in the butter, in a sauce pan for about 8-10 minutes, until slightly caramelized.  Add the garlic and cook for about 2 more minutes.  Add the sherry and half and half, and bring to a gentle boil. Whisk together the mushroom liquid with the cornstarch in a small bowl.  Whisk this mixture into the boiling sauce until thickened.  Add mushrooms and salt and pepper to taste.   Adjust thickness with wine, water or chicken broth if necessary, or allow sauce to thicken more by reducing slightly. Lay...