Noodle Night, Just the Two of Us!

Last night I cooked an Asian meal - Noodles, Chili Chicken, and cucumber salad - Noodle Night Just For the Two of Us....

Sweet fresh Salad

Start of the Noodles - frying the veggies

Add in the noodles

The curry sauce added in, and mix

It's done!

Delicious curry noodles

Chili Chicken

Hot and tangy chili chicken

Ready to serve with red wine

Dinner is served!

Salad - Onions, radish, cucumber, green onions, and cilantro, with sweet and tangy dressing. For dressing mix sugar, fresh lime juice, salt, soy sauce, little white vinegar, and few drops of oyster sauce.

Chili Chicken - Marinate chicken pieces overnight in egg, corn flour, plenty of cut green chilies, and soy sauce. I add a sprinkle of 'Ajinomoto' as well. I do not believe that MSG is bad for you, and when used in moderation it can significantly enhance the taste, so I use it. Heat oil and fry the mixture carefully on high heat. You want it to cook fast and the final product should be barely gluey. Add sliced onions and green peppers and fry. Drizzle soy sauce as required to get the consistency you desire.

Noodles - Best done in a wok, but I used our regular frying pan. In a wok it's easier to mix and also maintain the temperature. I used thin egg noodles. You can use any kind - rice, vermicelli, flat, thin - whatever you like, cook per instructions and keep ready. Pick the veggies you like - I used mushrooms, red peppers, onions, and green onions - slice and have ready. For me, fried eggs and prawns were the protein of choice.  BBQ pork or chicken go well with this dish too. For the sauce, heat oil and add plenty fresh crushed ginger and fresh crushed garlic, Madras Hot Curry powder, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and a bit a water. Set aside. Stir fry veggies quickly, add the noodles, add sauce, and mix well. This is where the real skill is. Make sure everything is mixed properly while not being soggy or getting burnt. The more you practice, the better you get at this. Add fried eggs and prawns. Adjust seasoning if you need, add salt, fresh lime juice, and plenty of fresh ground pepper and garnish with fresh cilantro. Voila! You are done!

Notes: I did not have Fish Sauce at home. All the three dishes above could be enhanced by fish sauce. Next, try using low sodium dark soy sauce for cooking. It's hard to find, but it's got rich flavor that you need. Try the Asian grocery stores.