I keep ready to stir fry Asian noodles on hand for quick meals and my favorite variety is udon. This thick, slightly chewy noodles are perfect when paired with anything else that loves to be in a stir fry and, when it comes to speed, nothing beat pairing them with a variety of fresh stir fry veggies and a simple sauce. This combination becomes my 15-20 minute meal plan for days when fussing over dinner just isn't in the cards.
Pick veggies according to your refrigerator, garden, or farmers' market. Fresh seasonal vegetables are perfect. And if you're not sure if the vegetable in question is okay for a stir fry, try it! This is how we learn. No less than a James Beard awarded chef taught me that tomatoes absolutely belong in Asian cuisine and now it's rare that I stir fry without a few flavorful cherry tomatoes on hand. For the sauce, you can always opt for a premade sauce that you like or mix together your own version. Avoid anything too salty as it both overpowers the flavors of the vegetables and tenders to pull too much moisture out of them as well.
This one's great on its own, but if I have time, I'll package it up and head off to my favorite sushi restaurant to get a couple rolls to go and find a park to enjoy it all in. This time of year brings together the produce to make the noodles happen and the weather to give you a downright perfect picnic. Enjoy!
Quick Veggie Udon
- 1 T. toasted sesame oil
- 2 c. mixed fresh stir-fry vegetables, cut into similar sized pieces - I used asparagus, mixed cherry tomatoes, and chopped hon tsai tsai
- ½ package (14.2 oz.) Ka-Me Udon Stir-Fry Noodles
- 2 T. maple syrup
- 1 T. sriracha sauce
- 1 T. rice vinegar
- 1 tsp. lime juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 T. soy sauce
- 1 tsp. cornstarch
- 2 tsp. black sesame seeds
Heat the sesame oil over medium-high heat in a large nonstick sauté pan or skillet. Add the vegetables and stir fry until crisp tender, about 5-7 minutes. Add the udon noodles, separating them up with your hands as you add them to the pan so that they can be fried individually. Stir fry for another 5-7 minutes or until the noodles are tender throughout and slightly browned at the edges.
Combine the remaining ingredients (maple syrup through black sesame seeds) in a resealable jar. Seal the jar and shake vigorously until combined. Add the sauce to the vegetables and udon and stir fry for 3-5 minutes until everything is coated and the sauce is thickened. Serve immediately.
- Yields: 2 servings
- Preparation Time: 20 minutes