Stir-fried Soy Spaghetti

Stir-fried soy spaghetti, also known as “stir-fried soy noodles”, is a typical dish of Chinese cuisine that we can Italianize with the use of Mediterranean ingredients. Here’s how you can proceed.

Ingredients

• 200 g of soy spaghetti
• 100 g of mixed vegetables cut into julienne (for example, peppers, carrots, zucchini)
• 2 cloves of minced garlic
• Extra virgin olive oil (as an alternative to peanut oil)
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon of white wine (Italianized version compared to the classic Shaoxing)
• Chili pepper to taste (if you like it a bit spicy)
• A few leaves of fresh basil to garnish (instead of coriander which is more common in the Asian version)

Preparation

1. Soak the soy spaghetti in lukewarm water for about 15-20 minutes until they become soft. Then drain and set aside.
2. In a large pan or wok, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and sauté the minced garlic until golden brown.
3. Add the julienned vegetables and stir-fry over high heat for 2-3 minutes to keep them crispy.
4. Pour the drained noodles and white wine into the pan with the vegetables and stir-fry everything on high heat for a couple of minutes. This process will allow the excess moisture to evaporate and the flavors to concentrate.
5. Add the soy sauce, a pinch of salt and pepper, and if you like, some chili pepper.
6. Mix all the ingredients well to blend the flavors and stir-fry for another couple of minutes.
7. Turn off the heat, taste to adjust the salt and pepper if necessary, and garnish with fresh basil leaves.

Serve the soy spaghetti piping hot, perhaps with an additional drizzle of raw extra virgin olive oil to enrich the dish with that Italian touch.

Curiosità

In China, there is a belief that eating noodles brings good fortune, especially if consumed during the Chinese New Year celebration. It is said that they symbolize long life due to their long and uninterrupted shape. With this dish, you’ll not only enjoy a Euro-Asian delicacy, but you might also attract some good luck!