Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Shrimp Noodles



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Things are a bit crazy around here. This morning we woke to a light snow that dusted the trees and turned the ridgeline that's visible from the kitchen windows into a scene worthy of a Christmas card. However, the view of the road at the bottom of the hill told an altogether different story. There wasn't a car in sight. We don't get a lot of snow in this part of the valley and because it usually melts quickly, folks tend to stay in rather than chance roads that are in "iffy" condition because of black ice. Normally, that's fine with me. Not so this morning. I was impatiently waiting for a repairman to brave the hill that leads to our house and as I waited there were times I found myself beseeching the heavens with words that were less than prayerful. You see, I have a problem. I have been without an oven for a week now and this man was to be have been my Galahad and right a life turned upside down by the vagaries of a modern appliance. That didn't happen. Oh, he made it up the hill O.K., but the problem was a thermocouple and a part that had to be special ordered. His last words to me were, "maybe next week." Some prince! So, we are going to have another week of stove-top, microwave and toaster oven meals. Fortunately, I have some recipes for this contingency. Tonight's recipe is a really simple stir-fry that can be on the table within thirty minutes. It is great for days when the clock has won the race with time, but you still have a family to feed. This is an Asian-like meal that calls no country home. It consists of noodles and garlic and shrimp that are tossed and stir-fried in a simple soy-based sauced before being rushed to the table to feed the hungry hordes. This is a mildly spiced dish that works well for a week-night meal. It won't make anyone's list of favorites but it is a great fast family meal. You can use precooked shrimp if needs be and any type of pasta can be used if you don't have access to Chinese noodles. The only trick to this dish is not to overcook the noodles prior to stir-frying. Here's the recipe.

Shrimp Noodles...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
12 ounces Chinese noodles or pasta
1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
1 pound peeled, deveined shrimp
2 cups mung bean sprouts
5 green onions (spring onions, scallions), white and green parts
4 teaspoons chopped garlic
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon Asian chile paste (I use Sriracha)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions:
1) Bring 2 quarts of lightly salted water to a boil in a 3 to 4-quart saucepan. Add noodles and cook per package directions until noodles are just done. Drain noodles in a colander. Rinse with cold water and toss with sesame oil.
2) Rinse shrimp in cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Remove tails from the shrimp if needed. In a medium saucepan, bring enough water to cover shrimp to a boil. Cook shrimp in the boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain thoroughly.
3) Rinse mung bean sprouts and drain thoroughly. Chop green onions.
4) Combine light soy sauce, rice wine or sherry, sugar and chile paste in a small bowl. Set aside.
5) Heat a wok or heavy skillet and add oil. When oil is hot, add garlic and noodles. Stir-fry for a minute, and then stir in shrimp and mung bean sprouts. Give sauce a quick re-stir and swirl it into pan. Stir in green onion. Stir-fry for 1 - 2 minutes to heat everything through. Serve hot. Yield: 4 to 5 servings.







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44 comments :

Ellen Whyte said...

Yum! I eat this often at our coffee shop. Classic.

Ellen Whyte said...

PS Thanks for your purrs. Target is looking a bit better.

Ginny Hartzler said...

This looks delicious. If anyone can work around not having an oven, it is YOU!!! I hope you have a toaster oven like mine, it is big and will hold a whole pizza or six pieces of toast, you can even bake a chicken in it.

They Call Me Hypo said...

Ooooo! Great idea. I have most of this on hand right now too! Thanks for the great dinner idea. :)

Amalia said...

No oven?? I'm sorry, that must be reeeeally inconvenient and annoying! But hopefully one week will come and go in a blink of an eye :) This dish looks amazing though, I love Asian food, especially anything involving shrimp! This is a great recipe that looks colorful, fresh, and delicious! Good luck with your oven, I'm sure you'll do just fine without it :)

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

Don't feel too bad Mary - I've been operating with a finicky temperamental stove a couple of years now. Sometimes I have 2 working burners sometimes all 4 if I'm lucky & the oven - that's a whole 'nother story. It's been needing to be replaced but it's a cluster of craziness what I need to do to get a new one, because I want to replace it with a gas stove in an all electric house! Maybe it's just a signal to take a break! The noodles sound delicious.

MissB said...

This looks delicious Mary! Again!! Love your blog, love your dishes!

Kiss*

Ana Rita Marreiros said...

I love food with chinese inspiration...And yours is looking delicious....

Hope you have a nice week,
Rita

Terri @ that's some good cookin' said...

I awoke to snow as well, Mary. We haven't had very much snow at all this winter, so this was actually a welcome sight since it will put a little more water in the reservoirs this Spring. As for your Shrimp Noodles, I'm thinking that they look quite delicious. I love 'Asianish' food!

Nina Timm said...

If I didn't know that I am on the wrong side of 40 to be having children, I would think I was pregnant, because my craving for Chinese food is overwhelming. So glad I can try this snow and get over it, or maybe not. I might want to try it again!

Coleens Recipes said...

Perfect timing, I just bought some shrimp!!

Priyanka said...

YUM...thats just delicious. Very inviting.

The Blonde Duck said...

Who doesn't love shrimp noodles?

Kim said...

Here, in winter, there is a lot of snow. For example, today we are going to receive around 15cm of it (we alreaday received 20cm last week)... So we're use to it... But no oven... It's a luck that pastas and stir fry exist for these cases. I like this one with shrimp, it's a good week meal!

Unknown said...

Ugh.. that would be so hard to live without an oven, but if you can create delicious little meals like this without it, you are doing ok! Love shrimp, Love noodles, I know I would love this dish!!

Priya Suresh said...

Irresistible noodles,makes me hungry.

Tanna said...

If anyone can improvise without an oven, it is you, Mary. So sorry about your oven. I know that must be incredibly frustrating as much as you cook! The thermocouple on our gas logs went out, too! [grumble, grumble]

The shrimp noodles look wonderful!! blessings ~ Tanna

From the Kitchen said...

Oh dear! During a blizzard a decade ago, we were without our oven (gas with an electric starter) for several days. It wasn't easy figuring out what to cook. Seems you are managing tastily. Hope the part is winging it's way to you right now.

Best,
Bonnie

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

We are never so thankful for something when we don't have it. As soon as it's repaired I am sure your home will be filled with wonderful baking smells. Until then there is so much to do stovetop. Today in fact I am making a lovely risotto.

Judy@SavoringToday said...

It's funny how the things we crave coincide with the appliance that is on the fritz ... even worse when it is the one that is seasonally useful. Bummer about your stove, but your Shrimp Noodles look wonderful.

Rita said...

Looks like a meal my husband and I would really enjoy!
Rita

Gloria Baker said...

love shrimp look amazing!

Susan Lindquist said...

Oh! I hope the part arrives quickly and you're 'back up and running soon'! In the meantime, I know you'll do just fine with a slow-cooker or a wok or a Dutch oven or a grill pan on the stovetop! You're a cooking wonder, Mary!

Anna's kitchen table said...

Mmm, there are lots of nice noodle recipes around blog-land at the minute!
I would love a huge helping please :-))

Susan..... said...

Also planning on making a shrimp stir fry for dinner tonight but I am making noodle cakes to spoon the stir fry on.
Another "oven-less" dish that I hope tastes and looks as good as yours does.

Cheers!!

Unknown said...

Looks like a great delicious way to prepare shrimp!

June said...

Boy, you never realize how much you use the oven until you don't have one! Hope the time flies and you're back to normal soon; however from what I can figure, your abnormal is more than good enough for most people. These shrimp noodles look fabulous!

Nuts about food said...

Hi Mary! What an ordeal, no oven for two weeks. I do have to admit though, that it looks like you are doing really well without.

Big Dude said...

You know you're a real cook, when you can just throw together something this good. Will you get any of the serious snow headed into the NW.

chacha said...

This dish looks wonderful and easily adaptable to our gluten free kitchen. Hope your oven is back in business quickly. Blessings.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

My boys would so love this!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I tried to follow, but the request wouldn't go through. Must be google issues. I'll check back later!

Eileen said...

The shrimp dish looks delicious. I wish your oven a speedy recovery - hopefully that part will come in sooner rather than later. Good luck!

Sprigs of Rosemary said...

Yes, I'm sure you'll find plenty to make until next week, sans oven, and this we know, is just one small piece of your repertoire!

Juliana said...

This noddles with shrimps look fabulous, simple and so so tasty.
Have a great week ahead Mary :-)

Beverly said...

I feel your pain about broken appliances. Our dishwasher is broken, and they had to order the part. We are hoping for revival this Friday.

The Shrimp Noodles looks like something my grandson would love. I prepare it this Sunday.

If only we were neighbors. You could use my oven, and I could use your dishwasher.

I've missed you, but work has me so busy.

teresa said...

oh wow, what a gorgeous dish, i just love shrimp!

Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine said...

very tasty dish Mary!

Anna said...

This looks so very delicious. Would love to eat it right now!!

Anonymous said...

I know how it feels to be without something that you take for granted, but we survive and become creative. Look at this dish you just made....wonderful!

Joanne said...

Oh no! It seems that EVERYONE'S ovens are breaking lately! At least you have some recipes up your sleeve. This stir fry sounds delicious!

Monet said...

There is nothing more frustrating than being without an oven! I hope yours gets fixed soon. But thank you for sharing this delicious recipe. I'm enjoying an unseasonably warm night here in Austin and about to start baking a chocolate cake. Much love!

Claudia said...

Even without an oven, you weave magic. Perfect in taste, lovely in simplicity.

love cooking said...

I love fried noodles. Normally I will use dark soy sauce for this. It gives darker color and sweeter taste to the noodles. Crack two eggs into it will be nice too. :)

Dudut said...

hi mary! first of, thanks for visiting my site, i'm so grateful.

your site is a refreshing to read, love the recipes you have here :) subscribing to your site in a few :)

I share your frustration of not having an oven, i experienced the same as well and it feels something is lacking if oven is not functioning.

thanks again :)

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