Cabbage and Carrots Noodle Str Fry

A quick and easy dinner idea using cabbage, carrots and other inexpensive ingredients.

I had some left over cabbage, carrots and onion and a small piece of ginger from earlier this week, so I thought I'd turn them into a stir fry. I make a lot of different Asian foods (because I live so close to Chinatown) so I have a lot of Asian condiments and foods on hand like soy sauce and sesame seed oil and Chinese wheat noodles, just to name a few. With the addition of garlic, which I always have on hand, and some chilies from the container garden I keep; this was an easy and inexpensive meal. Here is how I made it:

 Aromatics (this is what gives the dish its flavor):
3 large cloves garlic
1 inch piece ginger
3 Thai bird chillies
Mince all of these together. You can replace the bird chillies with any other pepper, or pepper sauce, or leave it out all together. Place the aromatics in a small bowl and sit aside.

 1/2 head cabbage, sliced
2 carrots, jullenned
1/2 large onion, chopped
Place cabbage, onion, and carrots in a large bowl and also sit aside. 8 ounces Chinese wheat noodles or ramen (you could also try spaghetti noodles)

 Sauce:
 1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup water
1 tsp sesame seed oil

A few dashes of 5 spice, optional

When ready to begin cooking, boil a pot of water for the noodles. When the water is rapidly boiling, put the noodles in and boil for 8 minutes. While the noodles are cooking, heat a large saute pan (mine is a 12 inch and it was full) or wok over medium high heat. Add enough veg oil to lightly coat the bottom and wait for pan to become hot. When pan is ready toss in the aromatics, stirring constantly until they become fragrant, about 1 minute. Then add the cabbage mixture and keep stirring (at this time I added some salt and a few dashes of 5 spice powder). Wait for the cabbage to wilt and soften. The noodles should be done now, drain them and rinse with cold water, then add them to cabbage. Pour sauce over all and stir until combined. You can turn off the heat now and taste, if you want more salt add a bit more soy sauce. Dish out eat and enjoy. This makes enough for 4.

This was a very filling meal on its own, but if you would like some protein maybe add a few fried eggs to the stir fry, or have the noodles as a side dish with pork or chicken.  The Thai peppers made it very mildly spicy, so my husband, who likes a lot of spice added Sirracha to his (a garlic and pepper hot sauce).