DIY ‘pot’ noodles

Gill Meller

Gill Meller

30th May 2014
Gill Meller

DIY ‘pot’ noodles

DIY ‘pot’ noodles - © Simon Wheeler. Taken from River Cottage Veg Every Day by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, published by Bloomsbury (2)

I first experimented with these when I was looking at ways to improve workday lunches. However, the concept works equally well as a fast and very satisfying supper. It’s important to find the right kind of noodle – one that will soften nicely in boiling water from the kettle without the need
for pan-cooking. I find flat, thin, quick-cook egg noodles fit the bill very well. The ‘pot’ should be covered once the water is added… with this in mind, a sealable heatproof jar, such as a kilner, is ideal.

Ingredients

  • Serves 1
  • 1 nest of thin, quick-cook egg noodles
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable bouillon powder, or ¼ veg stock cube
  • A good pinch of soft brown sugar
  • 1 small carrot, peeled and very thinly sliced or cut into fine julienne
  • 3–4 spring onions, trimmed and finely sliced
  • 6 sugar snap peas, shredded, or a few frozen petits pois
  • 1 leaf of spring greens or green cabbage or a couple of leaves of pak choi, stalk removed, finely shredded
  • ½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger
  • ½ garlic clove, grated
  • ¼ red or green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • Juice of ½ lime

Method

Put all the ingredients, except the soy sauce and lime, in a ‘pot’. Pour over boiling water to just cover everything, pressing the ingredients down. Cover and leave for 8–10 minutes, stirring once or twice, then add soy sauce and lime juice to taste, and eat.
Variation:
Curried mushroom pot
This works ‘instantly’ with raw mushrooms and defrosted frozen peas; you can of course add other finely sliced or shredded cooked veg too. Mix ½ teaspoon cornflour with 1 teaspoon curry powder and put into a ‘pot’ with a nest of thin, quick-cook egg noodles, 3–4 finely sliced mushrooms, 1 tablespoon defrosted frozen peas, 1 finely grated small garlic clove and a finely grated 1–2cm piece of ginger, along with about 25g paneer (Indian cheese) if you can get hold of some. Season with
salt and pepper. Pour over boiling water to just cover everything, pressing the ingredients down. Cover and leave for 8–10 minutes, stirring once or twice, then eat.

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