Broccoli Udon Food

BROCCOLI UDON

Steps:

• Put bacon and onion in a large covered skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir until onions are translucent and bacon is still soft, about 5 minutes.
• Cut each package of udon into quarters; add to the skillet. Cook and stir until noodles absorb bacon grease and fall away from each other, about 5 minutes.
• Stir broccoli and napa cabbage into the skillet; sprinkle sesame seeds and black pepper on top. Cover the skillet and reduce heat to medium; cook, scraping and folding with a wooden spatula a few times, until tender, 5 to 7 minutes.

UDON NOODLES WITH BROCCOLI

Steps:

• If using dried mushrooms, soak then for 15 minutes in warm water. Cut out and discard center stem, cut up the rest of the mushrooms into small, bite-size pieces.
• Peel and slice carrot into matchstick.
• Place a large pot of water on the stove to boil.
• Slice the tofu into three slabs as if they were small slices of bread. Heat 2 tablespoons of peanut oil in a pan. Fry both sides of the tofu slabs until lightly browned.
• Remove from pan and let tofu slabs cool on paper towels to drain any oil. Cut up slabs into 1/2 inch cubes.
• Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons peanut oil in a wok or large pan. Add the chilies, garlic and ginger. Stir-fry for 1 minute, then add the onion and cook until onion is slightly softened -- about 3 minutes.
• Drop the udon noodles and the broccoli into the water (let this cook while you are stir-frying). In the wok, add the cabbage, carrot and mushroom. Stir-fry until the cabbage wilts. Drain noodles and broccoli in a colander, and then add to wok.
• Stir in sesame oil, black bean sauce, sugar, soy sauce and bamboo shoots. Stir-fry for 2 minutes.
• Turn off heat. REMOVE CHILES! Stir in vinegar and lemon juice. Stir in tofu cubes (stir gently so as not to break up the tofu). Serve in bowls garnished with a little bit of sesame seeds.

UDON WITH BROCCOLI AND GINGER PEANUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut off the broccoli stalks and set aside for another use (such as in a vegetable stir-fry). Cut the florets into small pieces and steam them until tender-crisp, about 2 to 3 minutes. Refresh florets under cold running water and drain. Set aside.
• Cook the udon until tender but still chewy, 8 to 12 minutes. Perform step 3 while the udon is cooking. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt the cooking process. Drain thorougly.
• In a blender or food processor, blend the unsalted peanut butter, freshly grated ginger, minced garlic, tamari, brown rice vinegar, maple syrup and cayenne pepper together until smooth, using just enough water to create a medium-thick consistency.
• Immediately place the noodles in a bowl or storage container and toss with the peanut sauce. Add the broccoli.

SIMPLE STIR-FRIED UDON

Steps:

• Partially cook broccoli and udon in salted boiling water for a few minutes; drain and reserve 1/4 cup of the water.
• Beat the egg with 2 TB water and a pinch of salt.
• Heat 1 TB of oil in a wok; when hot, pour the egg in and cook until set; remove and set aside.
• Heat remaining 1 TB oil in the same wok over high heat; when hot, saute the onions until soft.
• Add garlic and saute for 30 sec.
• Add ham slivers and saute for another 30 sec.
• Stir in udon noodles.
• Add hoisin, oyster, soy sauces, white pepper, wine, chilli flakes; saute for 1 minute.
• Adjust heat to medium-low, add broccoli and reserved cooking water, cook for another minute.
• Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
• Add the cooked egg to the noodles, breaking it into pieces as you stir.
• Stir in sesame oil.
• Sprinkle with the reserved chopped spring onion (the green part) and squeeze some fresh lime juice over noodles, then serve immediately.