Noodles, fried rice, and pasta; are something that is perfect for weeknight dinners and in our family, they come under the comfort food category. If going Indian, my family would call Thayir saadham (yogurt and rice) or Ven Pongal, the comfort food. But when cooking something other than Indian, the first choice for my kids would be pasta. Next to pasta, anything with tofu or broccoli would be something my boys would ask. That is why, instead of the regular Indo-Chinese fried rice, I made yesterday’s Broccoli Fried rice.
Origin of Hakka Noodles
I learned something that I did not know before, the Chinese people migrated to Kolkata first in the late 18th and 19th centuries and that is how they bought their spices and flavors to India. The name ‘Hakka’ comes from the ‘Hakka people’ who migrated to India from the Hakka-speaking province of China. Ever since I learned all these from her post, I have this Vegetable Hakka Noodles recipe bookmarked from her space, but never actually got to make it until now. What we really liked about this dish is the smoky flavor of all the vegetables cooked on high flame. Also, the sauce for the recipe was quite different and it had sesame seeds which is one of my favorite seeds in the sauce. I went with very common vegetables and of course tons of tofu. Tofu can be replaced with paneer or egg. One thing I have learned from my many noodle-making trials and errors is that making the recipe for everyone in the family (4 in my case) requires a very large wok so that I can evenly cook all the vegetables in high heat. I do not have a very large wok and is something I am looking to buy soon. So I make my dish in batches. I pan-fry the tofu in bulk and have all the vegetables chopped and the noodles cooked. I make the recipe just enough for the boys first, with their favorite vegetables and then go ahead and make ours. This way I am able to maintain the high heat without overcrowding the pan, which could result in steaming the vegetables rather than keeping them crisp. Recipe adapted from – Cook’s Hideout
Ingredients for Vegetable Hakka Noodles
Hakka Noodles – 250 gms Onion – 1 small (thinly sliced) Carrot – 1 large (julienned) Bell pepper – 1 small (thinly sliced) Cabbage – 1 cup (shredded) Firm tofu – 1 package (cubed) Green onions/scallion – 2 (sliced) Sesame oil – 2 tbsp Olive oil – 2 tbsp Soy sauce – 3 tbsp Vinegar – 1 tbsp Red chili flakes – 1 teaspoon (more or less based on your preference) Salt – to taste (if needed)
For the sauce –
Garlic – 4 cloves Ginger – 1-inch piece Chili sauce (red or green) – 1 tbsp Ketchup – 2 tbsp Sesame seeds – 1 tbsp
Procedure to make Vegetable Hakka Noodles
Cook the noodles based on the package instructions and drain. Spread it on a wide tray and apply some oil to prevent sticking.
Prepare all the vegetables and have them ready as well.
To make the sauce –
Blend all the ingredients mentioned in a blender until smooth.
In a large wok or pan, heat 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Pan-fry the tofu until they are golden brown and crispy. Remove it and keep it aside.
Wipe the wok and add the rest of the oil. When the oil is really hot, add the red chili flakes and onion and let it cook for 2 minutes.
Now add the ground sauce and cook on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the soya sauce, chili sauce, and vinegar, and let it cook for a minute more.
Now increase the heat and add the vegetables. Cook them and make sure that they still maintain the crunch. It is very important to cook the vegetables in high heat and keep stirring the vegetables so they don’t get burned.
Now add the cooked noodles and mix well to combine. Cook them together for about 3 to 4 minutes for the flavors to combine. Check the seasonings and add salt or heat to the dish now.
Garnish with spring onions and serve hot.
Other One Pot meal ideas
If you made this recipe and liked it, give a star rating on the recipe card or let me know in the comments below. You could also share it with me on Instagram using #MyCookingJourney and tagging me @sandhya.ramakrishnan. You could follow me and my recipes on Facebook |Instagram | Pinterest | twitter
Recipe
