noodles

To make an authentic, Asian-style noodle dish, you don't need a lot of time or fancy ingredients. Don't believe me? This recipe proves it can be done. It takes regular angel hair pasta and tosses it with a fragrant sauce made of ginger, garlic, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and chili oil. Green onions, peanuts, and Thai basil are the garnish, but feel free to toss in some more veggies (like mushrooms, bell peppers, or baby corn) or tofu to make it more substantial.

This pasta only gets better the more time the flavors are left to meld, so make it tonight and enjoy it tomorrow. It also makes a great picnic dish. Get the recipe after the break.

While reading the February issue of Bon Appétit, I was surprised to learn that buckwheat, the fruit seed used to make soba noodles, is in season. Since I didn't even realize that it was seasonal, I've decided to cook with it more. This quick and simple recipe turns soba noodles into a healthy vegetarian meal. The noodles are topped with tofu, bok choy, and green onions. This dish would also be delicious with mushrooms, onions, broccoli, or red pepper, so use whatever vegetables float your fancy. Get the recipe after the break.

Upon realizing that March is National Noodle Month and National Sauce Month, I've been obsessed with learning more about Eastern noodle dishes and Asian sauces. So I swore it was culinary kismet when I got sent a copy of Easy Asian Noodles ($18). The title is by Helen Chen, a writer with three other Chinese cookbooks under her belt and the founder of an Asian cookware line. For an established Asian cooking figure like Chen, would this new book live up to its expectations? Find out when you read more.

I'm always looking for easy dinners that are tasty and fresh. Stir-fries are the perfect candidate for such a meal and this weekend, I pulled out the wok to make a simple shrimp and rice noodle dish. The shrimp required the most prep since I had to devein them. However, once all of the ingredients are prepped in individual bowls, the cook time is really fast. In under 15 minutes, I had an exceptionally delicious dinner. The mild sauce combines soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, and lime juice — creating a perfectly light Spring dinner. Skip takeout tonight and keep reading for the recipe.

When I hear the words "stir-fry," I normally think of a protein/vegetable dish that's served over rice. However, this recipe demonstrates that a stir-fry can also incorporate noodles. Chopped red pepper, snappy edamame, and strips of flank steak are flash-cooked in a large pan. A hoisin, chili, and garlic sauce seasons the dish, while the last-minute addition of minced ginger and chopped cilantro provides an aromatic freshness. Check out this uncomplicated but exciting recipe after the break.

Yet another Valentine's Day where I celebrate solo. Instead of being bummed about not having a boy toy, I'm doing what I do best: hosting a dinner party! Luckily, Chinese New Year happens to fall on Valentine's Day, so I'm inviting a select group of single friends to join me for a Chinese-inspired feast. The menu starts with shiitake and scallion lo mein and pork and chive dumplings. Noodles are a staple at Lunar New Year because they symbolize longevity. The main course consists of spicy Sichuan peppercorn shrimp, stir-fried Chinese greens, and steamed white rice. To enjoy these festive and delicious recipes with your loved ones, read more

Searching for an interesting and unexpected meal to feed your family? Look no further than this shrimp and noodle stir-fry. It comes together in less time than it takes to order out and is full of flavor and textures. The shrimp is tossed with bell peppers, pea pods, bok choy, and green onions before being coated in a simple sauce made from hoisin and orange juice. Use the recipe as a guide and substitute in tofu, mushrooms, broccoli, or whatever veggies you have on hand. To get the details, keep reading.

Earlier this month, Party and I were enticed by one reader's rendition of beef stroganoff. If you, too, found yourself salivating over her creation, here's another dish that you need to bookmark! Unlike the classic course, which has sour cream and mushrooms, the ground beef in this recipe becomes a stew with the help of a roux, beef broth, and Worcestershire. Pile it on top of herbed egg noodles, serve with a salad, and you've got a speedy (and guest-worthy!) dinner. Curious? Then read more.

For this week's Sunday night chicken dinner, I can't wait to apply the mainstream meat to a home-cooked Southeast Asian meal.

I love preparing ethnic foods at home, and this spicy noodle stir-fry, with its complex flavors, comes together in mere minutes, thanks to quick-cooking (and inexpensive) ground chicken.

Craving Thai takeout, sans the grease? For the recipe, read more.