Seafood Noodle Soup

DONABE SEAFOOD SOUP WITH UDON NOODLES

Steps:

• To make the dashi, fill a medium saucepan with 4 cups of cold water. Add the kombu and bring to a boil over medium-low heat, carefully skimming off and discarding any white foam that might bubble up using a large spoon or ladle, about 15 minutes. Once at a boil, turn off the heat and let sit for 5 minutes.
• Remove the kombu and bring the liquid back to a boil over medium heat. Turn off the heat and add the bonito flakes. Let the bonito flakes soak for 15 minutes.
• Strain the dashi through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing down with a rubber spatula to extract all the liquid. Discard the bonito flakes. (The dashi can be used immediately or cooled completely before storing in an airtight container for up to 5 days.)
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large donabe over medium heat. Add the ginger and scallions and sauté until the scallion whites are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups of the dashi and the napa cabbage. Raise the heat to medium high and bring to a simmer.
• Meanwhile, mix the mirin and soy sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Once the dashi is at a simmer, add the udon in an even layer. Carefully arrange the mushrooms, snapper, shrimp, clams and garlic chives in an even layer on top of the udon. You may need to nestle in and overlap some of the ingredients, such as the garlic chives and mushrooms, but take care not to overlap the snapper pieces too much or they may not cook evenly. Pour in the mirin-soy mixture and remaining dashi. Bring to a full simmer. Cover and let cook until the shrimp are pink, the clams are open and everything is cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes more.
• Carefully remove the lid and drizzle in the sesame oil. Transfer to the donabe to a trivet on the table. Divide among bowls and enjoy while warm. Season with additional mirin and light soy sauce, if desired.

SHRIMP NOODLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium heat cook onion, garlic, ginger and crushed red pepper in oil for 2 minutes. Pour in broth, carrots, and celery and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in snow peas and shrimp, cover, and cook for 3 minutes. Break noodles into 2-inch pieces and stir into soup; cover and cook 3 minutes more, until vegetables are tender and shrimp is pink. Stir in soy sauce and pepper and serve.

ASIAN SEAFOOD NOODLE SOUP

Steps:

• PREPARATION:.
• SHITAKE MUSHROOMS- If using dry ones, soak in warm water for 30 minutes then cut away the stem and cut in half (Or if using fresh Shitake mushrooms cut away the stems and cut in half), then fry in a wok with a little oil and then soy sauce (a few minutes) and set aside.
• SHRIMP- Split open the back of the shrimp and de-veine (remove/clean) as well as removing the shell, then place in a small bowl with a little salt (toss) and let sit for 15 minutes. Next fry in a wok with a little oil until pink (do not over cook) and set aside.
• SQUID- 2 large squid (or pre-cleaned from the fish market), remove the cartilage and scrape the slimy material off, split open and then score across(underside) and then score in the other direction, cut into bite size pieces, fry in a wok with a little oil (do not overcook) and set aside.
• PORK- Cut up into bite size pieces, stir fry in a wok with some oil and a little soy sauce (several minutes) and set aside.
• CHINESE GREENS- Can be any type of your choice; Chinese Greens, Bok Choy, Chinese Broccoli, Asparagus (American), place in a pot of boiling salt water for about 1 minute, drain and set aside.
• TOFU Firm, Cut into long flat pieces (1/4 inch thick) and fry in a little oil (about 7-10 minutes) then drain the oil and add a little soy sauce (and sesame seeds optional) cool briefly. Or use fresh tofu cut into small pieces and into boiling water for 1 minute, drain and set aside.
• SOUP STOCK- Heat in a large pot (any soup base is all right) add a little salt and white pepper (to taste) and set aside.
• NOODLES Fresh- Any type but I prefer yellow and fresh. There are packages which has four noodle servings. Set Aside.
• SCALLIONS- Cut up into small pieces. And/or you can use cilantro, bean sprouts, set aside.
• INSTRUCTIONS:.
• Place the individual portion (1) of the noodles into boiling water, and in about 2-3 minutes, separate with a fork/chop sticks, remove and drain in some cold water and then into an individual bowl.
• Add to the bowl some hot soup stock and separate the noodles.
• Next on top add some Mushrooms, Shrimp, Squid, Pork Vegetables, Tofu, a little Sesame oil, White Pepper (to taste) and Scallions/Cilantro.
• Do the same with the other three individual bowls....
• Serve with chopped sticks and an Asian porcelain type spoon and enjoy!
• NOTE: You can always reduce the food ingredients somewhat (like the Shrimp, Squid, Pork, Veggies, Tofu) because this recipe (and amount of ingredients listed) might be a little to much for each bowl and serving or if not, you can use these cooked ingredient the next day.