Noodles

ChapaDragon (Homemade Chajangmyun w/Seaweed and Steamed Tofu)

Date: April 23, 2013
Author: BeyondNFinity™
Categories: Noodles, Tofu, Vegetables
Comments: 3 Replies

The Simple Late Night Snack Becomes A Meal

I LOVE noodles almost as much as I LOVE rice with kimchi, some soup, greens, and some kim.  MMM, did I mention sushi and French cheesecake? I just love to eat really good food.

One really late night (early morning), a Korean program called THANK YOU was brought to my attention. The first time I watched it in Korean from beginning to end, understanding about eighty percent of it. I’m not fluent in Korean, yet I’m starting to really understand it more. The second time I watched it, there were subtitles which let me know that I had correctly interpreted eighty percent of the show.

During my late night viewing of THANK YOU, I became hungry and wanted a snack. Yet, I did not want to stop watching the show. One of the stars who goes by the stage name of G DRAGON, decided to prepare a meal for the other stars on the show. He was making a very popular dish in South Korea called CHAPAGURI. It is a cross between CHAPAGETTI and NEOGURI instant noodle dishes.

He began boiling noodles and chopping veggie seasonings like onions and chillies. I cringed as I watched him using the knife, I was afraid he’s cut himself. Once he drained most of the liquid, added the flavor packets, noodles, onions, and chillies; the dish looked quite appealing. Until the other stars mentioned that it was salty. Not his fault of course, instant anything tends to have lots of sodium for flavor and for preservation.

He also made a second dish called GYERANJJIM or steamed egg. The stars told him that it was not seasoned enough. Someone had the idea to mix the two together to basically create a new dish – CHAPADRAGON.

As I watched the stars eat, ideas on how to make the dish not be so salty, take great, and vegan! I stuck with making it as he did except I did not use the flavor packets and the steamed eggs became steamed tofu – DUBUJJIM. Which you can try the recipe for here.

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ChapaDragon (Homemade Chajangmyun w/Seaweed Steamed Tofu)

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: Serves 2

Ingredients

  • 1 med onion (1 cup), halved and thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup ice cubes
  • 1/4 cup black soybean paste
  • 2 heaping tablespoons minced garlic
  • 2 heaping tablespoons minced ginger
  • 1 tablespoon miyeok or wakame
  • 1 1/4 cup water
  • 1 red chile, diagonally thinly sliced (optional)
  • 1 green chile, diagonally thinly sliced (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon gochujang (optional)
  • 8 ounce ramyun or ramen noodles
  • 1 quarter piece cucumber, julienne

Instructions

    Vegetable Flavorings
  1. Prep all vegetables.
  2. Set aside.
    3. Noodles
  3. Boil noodles according to package instructions in a saucepan with a pasta insert.
  4. Lift cooked noodles from liquid.
  5. Pour out liquid.
  6. Set noodles aside.
    7. Preparation
  7. Using the same saucepan, add onions.
  8. Stir constantly to keep onions from burning until onions brown slightly.
  9. Slowly add ice and continue stirring. *Be careful of steam.
  10. Add black soybean paste, garlic, ginger, miyeok or wakame. Stir.
  11. Add chilies and/or gochujang.* Stir.
  12. Add water to create a sauce.
  13. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  14. Add noodles, stir, remove from heat.
  15. Place in bowls. Top with cucumbers and chillies.
  16. Serve.

Notes

Depending upon how much heat you like, you can add the gochujang and the chillies. Or you can leave out the gochujang and use the chillies as garnish.

https://www.beyondnfinity.com/chapadragon-homemade-chajangmyun-wseaweed/

 

 

 

 

Vegan Mofo #6 Japchae (Sweet Potato Noodles w/ Stir-Fried Vegetables)

Date: October 6, 2012
Author: BeyondNFinity™
Categories: Noodles, Tofu
Comments: Leave a reply

Stir Fry, Vegetables, and Noodles! YUMMM!!!

Say that really fast several times. Stir fry, vegetables, and noodles. Stir fry, vegetable, and noodles. Stir fry, vegetables, and noodles. Oh my!!!

I LOVE Korean food, always have. The wonderful balance of flavors. The simplicity of ingredients that come together to create amazing meals. Once all the prep is done, dishes are prepared with ease.

One dish that can take a short time to prepare once all the prep is done. Japchae!

Japchae is a simple noodle dish filled with stir-fried vegetables served at special occasions. It can be a side dish or a main dish. As well as it is served with rice. In the past it was only vegetables. Traditionally, it is made with mushrooms, onions, cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, beef, and spinach. Yet, this is a vegan version, so the beef is out. Really, this dish is made with any vegetable you can find and then topped off with sesame seeds.

I generally don’t keep spinach in the house. I usually use kale. which to me is heartier and works well with the flavors of sesame oil and soy sauce. However, I didn’t have kale nor mushrooms in the house. So I used what I had which was broccoli and tofu.

Instead of stir-frying the vegetables, I steam the vegetables, bake the tofu, boil the noodles, and then prepare it all in a bowl with soy sauce, sesame oil, a little sugar – I use agave. It can be served hot or at room temperature.

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Vegan Mofo #6 Japchae (Sweet Potato Noodles w/Vegetable Stir Fry)

Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 1 pound sweet potato noodles or cellophane noodles
  • 1 small onion, cut in half, sliced thin
  • 1 carrot, julienned
  • 1/2 bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 pound fresh broccoli
  • 3 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

    Noodles
  1. Boil noodles according to the package. Drain. Add a little sesame oil to prevent sticking.
    2. Vegetables
  2. Heat skillet, enamel cast iron pot, or wok to medium-high. Add all prepped vegetables.
  3. Stir-fry until softened and slightly browned for about 4 minutes.
    4. Tofu
  4. Slice tofu.
  5. Either bake in a 400ºF for 30 minutes or stir-fry until brown in the same skillet as the vegetables once vegetables are done.
    6. Assembly
  6. Quickly add noodles, remaining sesame oil, and soy sauce or tamari. Cook for 1 minute more.
  7. Serve hot or at room temperature.
https://www.beyondnfinity.com/japchae-sweet-potato-noodles-w-stir-fried-vegetables/

Vegan Mofo #27 Baked Tofu Soba Noodles w/Carrot & Cabbage Salad

Date: October 28, 2011
Author: BeyondNFinity™
Categories: Noodles, Tofu
Comments: Leave a reply

 

I was in the mood for something light yet filling. Sometimes my mind goes blank until I went in search of delights in my kitchen. I grabbed the last of the cabbage, 2 small carrots and an heirloom tomato and began making a salad.

 

 

Originally, this was going to be a simply saute the carrots and purple cabbage. Then serve with baked tofu and soba noodles. Instead, I chose to just make a salad bake some tofu and get a side of sobu.

 

 

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Vegan Mofo #27 Tofu Soba Noodles w/Carrot & Cabbage

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

  • Half head of purple cabbage, shredded
  • 2 small carrots, ribboned
  • 1 heirloom tomato, large chunks
  • 2 bundles soba noodles
  • 1 package of extra-firm water-packed tofu
  • 1 green onion, cut on the diagonal

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400.
    2. Tofu
  2. Remove tofu from package.
  3. Rinse.
  4. Cut tofu and bake for 30 minutes.
    5. Soba Noodles
  5. Prepare according to package directions.
    6. Salad
  6. Shred cabbage.
  7. Cut the ends off the carrots.
  8. Wash,
  9. Use a vegetable peeler to make ribbons.
    10. Heirloom Tomato
  10. Chop.
  11. Combine the carrots, purple cabbage, tomato and green onions.
  12. Serve.
https://www.beyondnfinity.com/vegan-mofo-27-baked-tofu-soba-noodles-wcarrot-cabbage-salad/

 

 

Vegan Mofo #26 Rice Noodles with Trumpet Royale™ Mushrooms

Date: October 28, 2011
Author: BeyondNFinity™
Categories: Mushrooms, Noodles, Recipes
Comments: Leave a reply

I love, love, love mushrooms! I believe they along with seaweed or sea vegetables, some good tasting herbs, a drizzle of tamari, and a bowl noodles or rice is loving hug from your most favorite blanket.

 

 These amazing porcini mushroom-like mushrooms have such a clean fresh smooth flavor that can work in any dish you want, if you dare.

 

 I grabbed some green onions, basil, garlic, and tamari. My mouth was watering. I decided to do two different cuts on the mushroom.

 

I wanted to see if these mushrooms could have the same look as a scallop. I made the slices too thin, yet I thought it would still work. I soaked the rice noodles according to the directions on the package and got the mushrooms underway. First the stems.

 

Now the tops!

 

 

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Vegan Mofo #26 Rice Noodles with Trumpet Royale™ Mushrooms

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 1 8 ounce package pad thai rice noodles, soaked and drained
  • 1 8 ounce package Organic Mycopia® Trumpet Royale™ mushrooms (or crimini mushrooms)
  • 2 green onions, cut on the diagonal
  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped or chiffonade
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoon tamari, divided
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

    Rice Noodles
  1. Prepare rice noodles according to instructions on the package.
  2. Set aside.
    3. Mushrooms
  3. Wash mushrooms.
  4. Cut off the very edge of the stem where there is sawdust.
  5. Cut an inch below the top.
  6. Slice the rest of the stem into slightly thick circles.
  7. Saute mushroom stem discs until lightly brown.
  8. Set aside.
  9. Saute mushroom tops until lightly brown.
  10. Add mushroom stem discs.
  11. Add the 2 green onion cut on the diagonal.
  12. Add basil, minced garlic, and 1 teaspoon tamari.
  13. Saute 3 minutes.
  14. Remove from skillet and set aside.
    15. Sauce
  15. Add vegetable broth, 1 teaspoon tamari, and black pepper to the skillet to pick up any bits left from mushrooms.
  16. Pour sauce over rice noodles.
  17. Stir.
  18. Add some of the rice noodle mixture into a bowl.
  19. Spoon some of the mushrooms over the rice noodles.
  20. Serve.
https://www.beyondnfinity.com/vegan-mofo-26-rice-noodles-with-trumpet-royale-mushrooms/

 

 

 

 

Misoba: A Little Late Night Meal

Date: October 7, 2011
Author: BeyondNFinity™
Categories: Noodles, Soup
Comments: 2 Replies

Vegan Mofo # 6

 

 

Off to a late start again. My days are off because I don’t get to bed until morning. I have always been a night owl.

I wasn’t all that hungry so I opted for a quick and easy late night meal (late night meal is yasik in Korean) – Misoba! Misoba is my name for miso soba noodle soup. I know that miso is Japanese and not Korean, still it’s convenient late at night. Sometimes I do use doenjang (fermented Korean soybean paste) to make ramyeon, however I tend to cook that for much longer than miso. We’ll save that for another time.

 

Misoba - Miso Soup

 

There isn’t anything like a great bowl of miso soup. Especially on a cold night. The best thing about it is you can put whatever you have on hand or whatever desired ingredient that you love to make it as hardy or as light as you feel. When it’s late and you have had a long day or just came in from a fun night, making a dish like this can hit the spot. The vegetables I add always change due to whatever I may have on hand. Just imagine all the flavor combinations that can be created with even the simplest of seasonings whether it’s the use of fresh or carmelized onions or onion powder. Even ingredients like minced garlic or garlic powder. How about some parsley, cilantro, or basil. Or even some baked tofu or tempeh. The choices are endless! The point is to use your imagination, enjoy yourself and have fun being creative. Cooking is really simple especially in this case. Boil noodles. Rinse. Heat water. Add any ingredients you want. Add miso. Add noodles, ingredients you added and broth to a bowl. Get some chopsticks and serve. Now see how simple that is?

Enjoy!

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Misoba

Ingredients

  • 2 bundles Japanese Buckwheat Noodles
  • 4 teaspoons brown rice miso (dark variety aged 1 1/2 - 2 yrs)
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 Field Roast smoked tomato deli slices, cut into strips
  • Any vegetable you want (I used a little carrot, peas, and shredded purple (red) cabbage
  • nori (optional) shredded
  • green onions (optional), chopped

Instructions

    Noodles
  1. Prepare Japanese Buckwheat noodles according to the instructions on the package.
    2. Deli Slices
  2. Place the two Field Roast deli slices on a cutting board. Cut into strips (of your choice of size)
    3. Vegetables
  3. Thinly shred some cabbage in any amount you like.
  4. Steam any amount of any vegetable you like.
    5. Nori
  5. Cut strips of any size of nori with kitchen shears or chef's knife.
    6. Water
  6. Boil water.
  7. Turn off burner.
  8. Add the 4 teaspoons brown rice miso.
  9. Whisk.
  10. Place half the Japanese buckwheat noodles into a soup bowl. Place strips of deli slices on top. Next add the shredded cabbage. Add vegetables of your choice. Finally, add the nori, if you are using it. You can also add chopped green onions.
  11. Serve.
https://www.beyondnfinity.com/misoba-a-little-late-night-meal/