Vegetarian Pho

Chris and I both love Pho. I never get the Tofu Pho bowl since I think they use chicken or beef broth for all of the noodle soups. Chris usually gets the Pho with mixed meat. Chris actually took me to Pho the first time and I didn't like it immediately because I wasn't using the optional sauces like Hoisin, Chili Garlic and Sriracha.

In this recipe it calls for flat rice noodles, and I will be using Mung Bean Noodles, you can also use  Rice Vermicelli. Some people really get into the garnishes but Chris just likes the soup with sauce. I will be using fried tofu, cooked napa cabbage and mushrooms.

I used ground anise seed and coriander seeds as that was all I could find. I think it turned out good.Chris didn't want napa cabbage and I forgot the mushrooms....

Tofu, Soba and Napa Cabbage Stir Fry

I am in a desperate search for Napa Cabbage recipes as I have a ton of it to use. I stumbled upon this recipe from Little Blue Hen. I have all of the ingredients and that for me is always a plus. It also sounds like a pretty easy and fast recipe. The pictures are beautiful, and that is actually how I choose what recipe I will try. I love all of the ingredients in this recipe.Chris and I really like the simplicity of stir fries and we like shopping at Tan-A (the Asian Grocer) since it is so cheap in comparison to buying it from the regular grocery store, and it is worth the trip even though it is a 30 minute drive for us to get there. I used a full container of tofu (14 ounces) instead of the 8 ounces called for. Sorry for the crappy picture. Chris loved it.

Tempeh, Napa Cabbage and Mushroom Potstickers

Wow, I sure do love Potstickers! Chris and I have made them a lot lately, but we have been using the same recipe so I thought it was high time to change it up. This recipe stood out from the other recipes that I had been looking at, mainly because it used tempeh. Tempeh is one of Chris's favorite soy products, plus it uses napa cabbage which I currently have an overabundance of. I line my steamer basket with the napa cabbage which keeps the Potstickers from sticking to the bamboo steamer plus you can eat it and it is infused with the smoky aroma of bamboo.  I have some recipes that I found that use napa cabbage (soon to come) and I also like it in my stir fries so I hope that I get to use all of it. Feel free to suggest recipes to me.

That is a 2 liter of pop. I believe the tag says it is a seven and some change pound cabbage....

I steam my tempeh after it is cut for 15 minutes each before cooking.

Chris and I really enjoyed these, very "meaty" tasting from the mushrooms and the tempeh. This is the recipe I used with the potstickers, very gingery and flavorful. More pictures to come soon.......

Udon Noodles with Spicy Peanut Ginger Sauce

I was looking online for udon noodle recipes that were spicy and I came upon this recipe , I am making it however without meat and using tofu instead, I also had no bean sprouts so I also left them out, along with the chili oil, which I subbed out with some garlic pepper sauce. I subbed out the almond butter for peanut butter and left out the vinegar. It is spicy, with a hint of ginger. I really enjoyed it. Here is the recipe that I made....

 Udon Noodles with Spicy Peanut Ginger Sauce

• 2 sleeves prepared udon noodles
  
• 1 tbsp. garlic pepper sauce
  
• 4 tbsp. teriyaki sauce
• 1 lime, juiced (one tbsp.)
  
• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 tsp. sesame seed oil
  
• 2 tsp. dry ginger
• 1 tsp. crushed red pepper
• 1/2 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. sesame seed oil
  
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, shredded
• 2 cups Napa cabbage, shredded
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  
• 1 Tbs sesame seeds
  

Combine ingredients from Teriyaki Sauce to crushed red pepper in a small bowl.
Cook 2 sleeves udon in boiling water for 8 minutes, drain and rinse with cold water.
Combine sesame seed oil and vegetable oil.
 If you happen to have some tofu, cut into triangles and cook on medium until browned on both sides.

Saute garlic cloves in oil mixture

Add your carrots and the Napa cabbage, stir fry on medium high until lightly wilted.
Add your noodles.

Mix in sauce and half of the chopped cilantro.
Serve with tofu and garnish with remaining cilantro and sesame seeds.