Udon Noodles Food

TO COOK DRIED UDON NOODLES

Steps:

• In large stockpot, bring 4 gallons water to rolling boil. (Note: Even small quantities of noodles need to be cooked a lot of water.) Add noodles and begin timing after water has returned to boil. If cooking semidried udon, boil 8 to 9 minutes before testing; if cooking dried, boil 10 to 12 minutes. Test by plucking a noodle from pot, plunging it into cold water, then biting. Noodle should be tender with no hard core; outer surface should be slippery but not overly soft. (This condition is what the Japanese refer to as koshi, or "substance," just as the Italians enjoy their pasta al dente.) If necessary, cook for another minute and check again.
• If you will be serving noodles hot, scoop them up into a strainer and lift from pot to drain. (Do not pour off cooking liquid; boiling water in pot can be used both to re-heat noodles, and to warm bowls in which they will be served.)
• If you will be serving noodles cold, drain them.
• Whether serving noodles hot or cold, rinse them well under cold running water to remove surface starch that would otherwise make them gummy. Then drain.
• Set noodles aside until ready to eat - they can be held for up to several hours (refrigerate if holding for more than 20 minutes). When ready to use, rinse noodles in boiling hot water if serving them in hot soup, or cold water if serving chilled as a salad.
• Other dried wheat noodles similar to udon include flat kishimen or thinner hiyamugi. Boil these dried noodles for 5 to 6 minutes before checking for doneness.

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.