Imagine a canvas of soft, wide udon noodles drenched in a light soy glaze, speckled with colorful chunks of fresh bell peppers, corn, peas, and shallots. On top, you'll find elegant spirals of carrot ribbons encasing blocks of tofu, adding an orange zest to the ensemble. Finished with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and a garnish of green onions, it's a visual symphony on a plate.

Carrot Ribbon Udon Noodle Stir Fry

Name: Carrot Ribbon Udon Noodle Stir Fry
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: large carrot, 2 cut into long thin ribbons using a peeler; udon noodles, 500g cooked as per pack instructions; firm tofu, 200g pressed and cut into 1-inch cubes; bell peppers, 2 diced; corn kernels, 1 cup boiled; peas, 1 cup boiled; medium shallots, 2 finely chopped; garlic cloves, 2 minced; soy sauce, 3 Tbsp; sesame seeds, 1 Tbsp; green onions, for garnish; olive oil, 2 Tbsp; salt, to taste; pepper, to taste

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 20 minutes

Style Japanese

Technique Boiling

Diet Friendly Vegan

Daily Recipe: August 04, 2024

Unleash the vibrant flavors of the season with this unique Japanese inspired main course pivoting on the nutritious carrot. A fusion of fresh summer veggies, soft udon noodles, and tofu wrapped in thin carrot ribbons, this dish is a playful nod to the traditional Japanese cooking philosophy of harmonizing nature's seasonal offerings.

Ingredients (for 4)

Large carrot - 2 - cut into long thin ribbons using a peeler
Udon noodles - 500g - cooked as per pack instructions
Firm tofu - 200g - pressed and cut into 1-inch cubes
Bell peppers - 2 - diced
Corn kernels - 1 cup - boiled
Peas - 1 cup - boiled
Medium shallots - 2 - finely chopped
Garlic cloves - 2 - minced
Soy sauce - 3 Tbsp
Sesame seeds - 1 Tbsp
Green onions - for garnish
Olive oil - 2 Tbsp
Salt - to taste
Pepper - to taste

Preparation

Step 1 - 🍳🔥🥄

Start by heating 1 Tbsp of olive oil in a large wok or non-stick pan.
Step 2 - 🌶️🧅🔪🥘

Stir-fry bell peppers, chopped shallots, and minced garlic until they become fragrant.
Step 3 - 🌽🍵🥕🌶️🥘

Add boiled corn and peas to the wok or pan, stir for a couple of minutes.
Step 4 - 🍝🥢🔥🍲

Add cooked udon noodles and soy sauce into the mixture in the pan. Stir well to combine, remove from the pan and keep it warm.
Step 5 - 🍲🔥🍤🥢

In the same pan, add the remaining oil and fry the tofu cubes until they turn golden brown on all sides.
Step 6 - 🥕🍢🥢

Wrap the golden brown tofu cubes in thin carrot ribbons. Secure with a toothpick if required.
Step 7 - 🍽️🥬🍝🥢

Plate the stir-fried noodles, place the carrot-wrapped tofu on top. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and garnish with green onions.
Step 8 - 😋🍽️👌

Serve immediately for the best taste and aesthetics.

Additional

Fun Fact: The carrot ribbons wrapping the tofu cubes embody the roulade technique commonly seen in French cuisine. It not only adds to the presentation but also creates a satisfying texture contrast to the dish. For a non-vegan twist, you could substitute tofu with shrimp or thinly sliced chicken.