Noodles

“Noodles”, a general term for a variety of pasta or noodles typical of Asian cuisine, can be prepared in many ways. Here I’ll provide a basic recipe for making stir-fried noodles with an Italian touch. If you want a specific recipe from a region in Asia, let me know!

Ingredients

• 200 g of rice or wheat noodles (dry)
• 1 red pepper
• 1 zucchini
• 1 carrot
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
• A pinch of chili pepper (optional for a spicy touch)
• 2 tablespoons of grated cheese, such as Parmesan or Pecorino (Italian touch)
• Fresh aromatic herbs like chopped basil or parsley (Italian touch)

Preparation

1. Start by bringing a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the noodles according to the instructions on the package, then drain them and quickly rinse under cold water to stop the cooking and prevent them from sticking.
2. Wash and cut the red pepper, zucchini, and carrot into thin strips or julienne.
3. Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large frying pan or wok and add the crushed garlic. Sauté until it becomes golden, then remove it from the pan.
4. Add the sliced vegetables to the pan and stir-fry over high heat for a few minutes until they start to become tender but are still crunchy.
5. Add the cooked noodles to the vegetables in the pan, along with the soy sauce, a sprinkling of pepper, and, if you like, a pinch of chili pepper.
6. Stir well over medium-high heat until the noodles are well seasoned and hot.
7. Turn off the heat and add the grated cheese, mixing well to distribute it evenly.
8. Sprinkle with the chopped aromatic herbs before serving.

Curiosity

Noodles are extremely versatile and are consumed all over Asia with variations from country to country. Adding cheese and aromatic herbs is a way to “Italianize” the dish, obviously this variant moves away from Asian traditions to embrace a touch of Italian culinary creativity.