Serve Up A Bit of Luck

April 13, 2012 No comments » [ssba]

TGIF!  Well, for some, maybe not.  After all, it is Friday the 13th!  While you might spend today avoiding black cats, trying not to step on cracks and steering clear of ladders and open umbrellas, I have a different idea.  Why not cook up something to counteract all those unlucky symbols?  Here is a simple and delicious recipe that might help: Sesame Noodles.

In many Asian countries, long noodles symbolize good luck because they represent long life.  It’s a good enough reason for me.  (Don’t be surprised if you find yourself cooking these up all year-round; I do.)

Sesame Noodles

Recipe adapted from Blue Eggs and Yellow Tomatoes by Jeanne Kelley

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp tahini
  • 3 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tsp sambal oelek or Sriracha sauce*
  • 8 green onions
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 1 ½ inch piece fresh ginger, peeled
  • ¾ lb spaghetti
  • 3 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • Chopped cilantro

Whisk the tahini, soy sauce, brown sugar, and sambal oelek together in a small bowl.  Thinly slice the green parts of the green onions and set aside.  Mince the remainder of the green onions along with the garlic and ginger.

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the sesame oil in a heavy, large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the bell pepper and stir-fry until almost tender, about 1 minute.  Add the onion-garlic mixture and stir-fry until the onions and garlic are tender and begin to turn golden brown, about 1 minute.

Drain the noodles, reserving about 2/3 cup of the cooking water.  Whisk half the reserved cooking water into the tahini mixture.  Add the pasta to the skillet along with the tahini mixture and the reserved green onions.  Stir over low heat until the noodles are just lightly coated, about 2 minutes, adding additional cooking water if necessary to moisten.  Garnish with chopped cilantro, if desired.  Serve with a light, fruity white wine such as Isabel or Moscato.

*You can find sambal oelek and Sriracha sauce in Asian markets and well-stocked supermarkets.

–Are you superstitious?  What scares you about Friday the 13th


Posted by , April 13, 2012 No comments

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