Noodle Soup

From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the fragrant alleys of Hanoi, from the vibrant markets of Bangkok to the humble kitchens of home, Noodle Soup transcends borders, cultures, and palates, weaving a tapestry of flavors that beckons us to savor every moment, every ingredient, and every memory. It is great if you have the time to make everything from scratch but for those moments when you do not have the luxury of time and for the convenience of everyday cooking, here is an ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ Noodle Soup dish, perfect for a satisfying, comfort meal. Use any veggies in hand and your protein of choice. The good news is you only need a small portion of noodles and you end up eating a whole lot of veggies. This dish is a combination of flavors of different cultures of the bold and vibrant flavors of Korea and Vietnam. This is a find-what-is-in-your-fridge-and-pantry and put it together dish, which, lets face it, we’ve all done in some point of time or the other. The fun part of course is that it is wholesome and pretty healthy too. Silken tofu in my view is so underrated. They make the most delicious smooth soup and they don’t require too much cooking, frying etc. Any noodles can be used here. You can either cook the noodles separately and then add it to the simmering soup or do it in one go making it a one pot magic @sarchakra

PREP TIME: 10 mins

COOK TIME: 10 mins

SERVES: 2

Ingredients

• Noodles a small portion
• Organic silken tofu 8 oz
• Garlic 3 cloves, sliced
• Onion 1 small, thinly sliced
• Mushrooms 4-5, thinly sliced
• Cauliflower florets a small handful
• Spinach 1 cup
• Carrot 1, large, cut into sticks
• Mixed veggies ½ cup
• Tomato 1, chopped
• Lemongrass 1 tbsp, chopped finely
• Toasted sesame oil 2 tsp
• Honey 1 tsp
• Gochujang paste 1 tbsp
• Ssamjang paste 1 tbsp
• Nam Vang Noodle Soup Seasoning 1 cube
• Toasted sesame oil 3 tsp for drizzle

Method

• In a large wok bring water to a simmer. Add the noodles and lemongrass and cook till the noodles are nearly done. Add the sliced mushrooms, carrot, onion, garlic, cauliflower florets and silken tofu in the last couple of minutes of cooking.
• In a bowl mix ssamjang paste, gochujang Nam vang soup seasoning and honey.
• Pour the mixture into the soup and lastly add the spinach. Stir everything to combine.
• Serve the Noodle Soup with a drizzle of toasted sesame oil. See suggestions below for other ways to serve this dish.

Notes

Ssamjang is a blend of fermented soybean paste (doenjang), Korean red chili paste (gochujang), garlic, sesame seeds, sweetener and cooking syrup called yoridang. It has a complex profile and is perfect for soups and stews. It is sweet, spicy, savory with a punch of umami- a little goes a long way. You can use it without cooking as a dipping sauce or use it as a marinade for meat or fish. It adds depth and complexity to dishes.

Gochujang is another cornerstone of Korean cooking. It is a fermented chili paste made from red chili peppers, glutinous rice, fermented soybeans and salt. It is sweet, spicy, slightly tangy and is a versatile ingredient in soups, stews, marinades and sauces.

Nam Vang is traditionally made with pork or chicken and fresh veggies. Stay tuned to a vegetarian version of this seasoning coming very soon on the blog.

To add an extra layer of flavor and texture to our noodle soup, top the soup with crispy fried shallots, crushed peanuts, bean sprouts, Thai basil, cilantro and scallions. These additions not only enhance the dish’s visual appeal but also provide contrasting flavors and textures that elevate the dining experience.

Serve the soup in individual serving bowls garnished with a vibrant array of fresh herbs and vegetables. A sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds or a squeeze of lime juice will add a final flourish, imparting brightness and acidity to balance the rich and savory flavors of the soup.

Experiment with different types of noodles, such as udon or soba to get equally delicious results, adding variety and texture to the dish.

If you try a recipe, please use the hashtag #sarchakra on INSTAGRAM for a chance to be featured!

FOLLOW SARCHAKRA ON FACEBOOK| INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER I TIKTOK FOR ALL OF THE LATEST CONTENT, RECIPES AND UPDATES.