Rice Noodles in Vegetable Sauce

Pasta is versatile. Be it a soup or a salad or an entrée, it lends hand to a cook who has to bring dinner to the table with limited resources. Though called under different names like spaghetti, fettuccine or bucatini, wheat noodles can get boring sometimes. At those times, I jump to the oriental camp and cook with soba or udon noodles. If you are once again bored, then try rice noodles. You will be surprised.

I always have rice noodles in my pantry. Instant idiyappam, as they are called, my mom prepares them as you would prepare any mixed rice. Lemon, coconut, tamarind and tomato are the common flavours. But when I want to get my vegetable fix of the day, I do what I normally do – stir fry. And then serve it with rice noodles.

One of the things I do when I am grocery shopping is stock my freezer with frozen vegetables. Apart from the usual peas, corn, broccoli, I also buy various blends of mixed vegetables. All you have to do for a quick meal is thaw and sauté the vegetables. With a little creativity and few flavoursome sauce ideas, dinner time is something to look forward to.

Ingredients

Rice noodles – ½ packet
Onion – 1
Garlic – 2 cloves
Lemongrass – 1 stalk, minced (optional)
Carrot – 2, cut into thin slices
Baby corn – 1 can, drained and rinsed
Bean sprouts – 1 cup
Tomato puree (canned tomato sauce) – 1 cup
Coriander powder – 1 tsp
Soy sauce – 1 tbsp
Chilli powder or red pepper flakes – 1 tsp
Cilantro
Salt
Oil

Method

Place noodles in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand until it is cooked, according to package instructions. Drain and keep warm.

In a skillet, heat oil, add onion, garlic and lemongrass and sauté until soft. Add carrots, baby corn, tomato puree, coriander powder, soy sauce, chilli powder and salt. Stir to combine. Allow the sauce to bubble and the vegetables to get partially cooked, yet remain crunchy. Add bean sprouts, adjust seasoning and liquid, if necessary. The vegetable mixture has to be soupy to soak the rice noodles.

Spoon the cooked noodles onto a bowl and top with the vegetable mixture with sauce. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Rice Noodles with Vegetable Sauce

Other vegetables that can go into this bowl are bell peppers, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots etc. You can even add a can of beans of your choice. My favourite way is to sprinkle some toasted peanuts on top.

27 comments:

Raaga said...

yummy... I buy my veggies and freeze them now :-)

amna said...

i wud love to dig into that bowl for sure. the corn looks cooked just right :)

nice pic as always, but probably a different angle wud have come out better?

Padmaja said...

Suganya
What a vibrant dish!!!
I love those beautiful colors which compliment that dish so well!!!

Anu said...

Hi Suganya,
GR8 recipe and what a lovely pic! want to eat it right away :)

FH said...

YUM!! Love the photo with that baby corn prominent! Enjoy Suganya. I have to make some Pasta dishes too!:))

Pooja V said...

wow Su, This is simple, neat and complete meal.

Unknown said...

Yummyyy Suganya.... I am feeling very hungry after seeing the pic!!!! Looks so very delicious!!!

Sig said...

That is a great idea for an instant meal Sugnya.. I too have the instant idiyappams in my pantry and frozen veggies in my freezer... but I never really think of combining both, thanks for the idea... :)

Bong Mom said...

I am sure when I cook it, it will not have this gorgeous colour. Very pretty

Padma said...

That is looking so lovely, I am wondering how the rice noodles tasted, as I attempted once cooking with them and they were so bland...

musical said...

Neat idea, Suganya! I love rice noodles!

Tee said...

You sure have great ideas for a quick meal with limited resources! Rice noodles in vegetable sauce look really delicious!! :)

TBC said...

Beautiful colors!

Kribha said...

Looks so colorful. Love the contrast between the sauce and the noodles.Bookmarking.

Laavanya said...

I've made Bee hoon (fried rice noodles with veggies - popular in singapore) but this is a neat idea too. Looks very good.

Unknown said...

Beautiful bowl of noodles. Sounds like a less spicy version of tom yam soup noodles.

Anonymous said...

All colorful and inviting

Coffee said...

What will I not give to dig into that bowl!! And chopsticks is the right way to eat them.... Did you eat them with chopsticks??

Manasi said...

Wow Suganya!! I have arice noodle packet sitting for ages on the shelf.. bought impulsively.. M wanted me to throw it when we moved to the new apt. I'm glad I did not! Will try this for sure once I'm settled in well!!
Thanx!!!!!!!

Neelam said...

Great recipe and Great picture too!!

Anonymous said...

it isa looking perfect.and babycorn i love it.colours r vibrant and tempting.

Suganya said...

Thank you all, for your kind words!

Laavanya and Pushpa, I would like to learn those recipes you have mentioned here. Pls do blog abt them when you find time.

Coffee, I did eat them with chopsticks. This way I practice at home and won't make a fool of myself when I go to a Chinese place :D

Manasi, Now you know what to do. I hope the move went fine. Hoping to see you blogging soon!

Sharmi said...

hey thats a beautiful and vibrant color. very tempting.

Viji said...

It looks yummy Suganya. Viji

SeeC said...

Yummy !!! What a lovely color.
Picture looks superb

Anonymous said...

simple yet delicious...

Rachna said...

yeah this idea of combining rice noodles with veggies is superb and the pic is awsome...

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