| Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 15 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 350 | 10g | 3g | 55g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 6g | 4g | 16g | 1.5g |
Why I Love Chinese Vegetarian Spicy “Meat” Strips with Noodles
If there’s one thing that excites me during cooking, it’s venturing into cuisines beyond the borders of my beloved South. I am particularly fond of Chinese recipes, for their depth of flavours, simplicity of execution, and the wonderful stories they tell about the people and culture. One of such recipes that I adore is the Vegetarian Spicy “Meat” Strips with Noodles, a delightful medley of flavours that brings the punch and zing of Eastern cooking right into your kitchen.
A Fusion of Flavours
With its plethora of intensely flavourful ingredients, such as the kick of the ginger, warmth of garlic, tang of soy and hoisin sauces, and the sizzling zest of chili paste, this delicious dish shows that meatless doesn’t have to mean tasteless. Add to that the crunch of bell peppers and the subtle sweetness they infuse, the silky-rich kisses of sesame oil and the accompanying seeds, and the mild, palate-cleansing essence of the rice vinegar, the result is a vegetarian delight that celebrates harmony in every mouthful.
Inspiration for the Recipe
While creating this dish, I couldn’t help but draw inspiration from Gordon Ramsay, the world-renowned chef known for his exquisite fusion creations. Ramsay’s knack for bringing together distinct ingredients and cultures on a plate has always fascinated me, and I am certain his influence reverberates through the complexity and depth of flavours in this Chinese dish.
Accenting the dish further, is the delightful crunch brought about by a dusting of sesame seeds – a natural and fresh compliment to the subtly fiery undertone brought about by the optional crushed red pepper flakes.
Vegetarian “Meat” – A Revelation
The joy of this meal, however, has to be the star ingredient – the vegetarian “meat”. More than just a meat alternative, vegetarian “meat” affords the unique benefit of giving vegetarians and meat-lovers alike, an opportunity to relish the texture and pleasure of meat while reaping the benefits of a plant-based diet. More specifically, in the Vegetarian Spicy “Meat” Strips with Noodles, this star shines brilliantly, absorbing beautifully the array of flavours, while lending its own sumptuous bite to the dish.
So, here’s my call out to my fellow foodies, both practiced chefs and rookie home cooks. Why not dive into the splendour of Chinese Vegetarian Spicy “Meat” Strips with Noodles? Rest assured, every bite will sing a medley of flavours, every dab of sauce will promise an adventure, and every slurp of noodle will beckon an encore. As someone who’s had many culinary journeys, I can assure that this one’s definitely worth taking.
What You’ll Need
- 12 oz. vegetarian “meat” strips
- 12 oz. noodles, cooked as per the package instructions
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 inch ginger, minced
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp chili paste
- 1 tbsp cornstarch, mixed with 2 tbsp cold water
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
Method
Step One
Begin with preparing your ingredients: Cook the noodles as per the instructions on the package and set aside. Then, chop the garlic, ginger, green onions, and slice the bell peppers.
Step Two
In a large wok or skillet, heat the cooking oil over medium heat. Put in the minced garlic and ginger, and sauté for about a minute until they become fragrant.
Step Three
Add the vegetarian “meat” strips to the wok and cook until they are heated through. Remove them from the pan and put them to one side.
Step Four
In the same skillet, add the sliced bell peppers and chopped green onions. Stir-fry until the peppers are tender and the onions become soft and fragrant.
Step Five
Return the cooked “meat” strips to the pan. Add soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and chili paste. Stir everything together and cook for a couple of minutes until the strips are well-coated in the sauce.
Step Six
Mix the cornstarch in cold water till it’s fully dissolved. Next, add this mix to the skillet followed by vegetable broth. Stir everything and bring to simmer. Add sugar and crush red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for a further 2-3 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken.
Step Seven
Add the cooked noodles into the skillet and toss to combine and get everything coated in the sauce.
Step Eight
Remove from the heat and garnish with sesame seeds before serving. Enjoy the delicious Vegetarian Spicy “Meat” Strips with Noodles.
