Cold Noodles With Chile Oil And Citrusy Cabbage Food

COLD NOODLES WITH CHILE OIL AND CITRUSY CABBAGE

Steps:

• Heat oil, fennel seed, pepper flakes, garlic, Sichuan peppercorns and star anise (if using) in a small pot over the lowest heat possible. Cook, swirling occasionally, until you start to hear and see the garlic and spices frizzle and toast in the oil, 5 to 8 minutes. (Every stove is different and sometimes the low isn't as low as we'd like, so keep an eye on things; it may take less time.) Keep cooking at the lowest heat setting until the spices are toasted and the garlic is golden brown, another 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Meanwhile, cook noodles in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. (If not using right away, spread onto a rimmed baking sheet and toss with a little canola oil to prevent sticking.)
• If serving the citrusy cabbage, place cabbage in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add citrus juice and zest, tossing to coat. Let sit a few minutes to soften. Drizzle with olive oil before serving.
• If serving the tahini sauce, whisk tahini, garlic, lemon juice, sesame oil and 1/4 cup water in a small bowl until a creamy dressing forms. (Tahini thickness varies greatly from brand to brand; if you need more water to achieve a smooth, creamy dressing, add it by the teaspoonful until you get the desired texture.) Add herbs and season with salt, pepper and more lemon juice, if desired. Alternatively, place all ingredients and 1/4 cup water in the bowl of a food processor and process until a smooth, creamy dressing forms.
• If serving the lemony scallions, combine scallions, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest and soy sauce in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper and let sit for at least 5 minutes before serving.
• When ready to eat, toss noodles with vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Spoon chile oil over the noodles, tossing to coat; keep adding the oil until your noodles are evenly coated. (Keep in mind you have other sauces for the noodles, so you're just looking for them to be coated and sufficiently spicy.) Serve any additional chile oil alongside for personal spooning, with the cabbage and other sauces if you like. See the notes for adding more spicy things and blanched or roasted vegetables.

CHINESE CHILLED NOODLES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the sesame oil, black soy sauce, balsamic, sugar, salt, and Chile Oil. Whisk to blend. Stir in half of the sliced scallions. Set aside in the refrigerator.
• When the water boils, season with salt until the water tastes like seawater. Plunge the pasta in the boiling water and cook, 3 to 5 minutes, until al dente. Place a colander in the sink. Remove the pot from the heat and pour off most of the water into the colander, catching any pasta as the water pours out.
• Remove the colander from the sink and fill the pot still containing the pasta with cold water. You want the pasta to cool quickly by being submerged in the cold water. This will assure a chewy texture.
• Drain the pasta thoroughly in the colander, shaking it a few times to remove excess water covering the pasta. Spread a kitchen towel on a flat surface and turn the noodles onto the towel. Gently use a second towel to dry the noodles. Removing the excess moisture assures that the sauce will have its proper flavoring effect on the noodles. Any water from cooking the pasta dilutes the noodles and makes them taste more like water than anything else. Gingerly transfer them the bowl with the sauce. Use your hands to mix the pasta and the sauce, taking care that all of the pasta gets coated. Cover with plastic and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• These noodles can marinate for a few hours or overnight before serving. Serve them cold, tossing them again in the sauce just before serving, and garnish with the remaining scallions.
• Remove the stems from the chiles then place in a food processor and blend until they are completely broken down.
• Use a rubber spatula and scrape into a medium sized saute pan. Add the oil and stir well. Set the pan over medium-low heat. Gently warm up the oil slowly so it draws out the color and flavor of the chiles. Stir well and season with salt. Once the oil is barely simmering, cook for 5 to 6 minutes. hut off heat and allow to cool. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

CHILE-OIL NOODLES WITH CILANTRO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook noodles according to package instructions, stirring from time to time to prevent them from sticking. Drain well in a colander, then run noodles under cold water until cooled.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine all three oils with the soy sauce and 1/2 cup garlic chives.
• Toss cooled noodles into the chile oil mixture. Gently fold in the crumbled fried shallots and chopped cilantro. Divide among four bowls, and top with more garlic chives and cilantro sprigs.

CHINESE NOODLES WITH CABBAGE

Steps:

• Place the turkey into a mixing bowl and add 1/2 tablespoon of wine or cream sherry, salt, pepper, garlic, scallions, ginger, and sesame oil. Mix well, then brown meat mixture until cooked through. Set aside.
• Add cabbage to pan. Saute for 1-2 minutes, then add stock, soy sauce, and sherry. bring to a boil, cover until cabbage is wilted. Mix cornstarch with water and add to thicken sauce.
• Add noodles and turkey, season with additional salt and/or soy sauce to taste.

COLD CHILI ORANGE NOODLES

Steps:

• For the Sauce:.
• Combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a blender and puree for thirty seconds.
• Place sauce in a jar and keep, covered, in the fridge.
• For the Noodles:.
• Cook noodles according to package directions until al dente.
• Remove from boiling water and shock in ice water and drain again.
• Toss noodles with sesame oil.
• Blanch bean sprouts in boiling water (from the pasta) and shock them in ice water.
• When ready to Serve:.
• Place noodles in bowl and toss with 1/4 cup of Chili-Orange Sauce.
• Add bean sprouts and carrots and toss again.
• Add additional sauce if necessary but don't overdo.
• Mound noodle mixture in the center of a serving bowl and garnish with nuts, scallions and cilantro.