COLD NOODLES WITH CHILE OIL AND CITRUSY CABBAGE

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image



Cold Noodles With Chile Oil and Citrusy Cabbage image

While cold chile noodles are often seen as a side dish, here they act as the anchor of the entire meal. They are delicious on their own, and it would be hard to go wrong with any pairing. A salad of fresh herbs (cilantro, dill, mint, parsley) topped by a creamy tahini dressing is a good place to start. From there, feel free to include a mess of citrusy cabbage and whatever blanched, roasted or raw vegetables you may have on hand for texture. While these suggestions are optional (it doesn't have to be vegetarian: shredded rotisserie chicken or last night's pork chop would also be welcome), seek out saucy, herby, crunchy, tangy and spicy ingredients to liven up an already lively bowl of noodles.

Provided by Alison Roman

Categories     dinner, weekday, noodles, main course

Time 35m

Yield 4 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 28

1/2 cup canola or grapeseed oil
1 tablespoon fennel seed
1 tablespoon red-pepper flakes
2 garlic cloves, very finely chopped
1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorns (optional)
1 star anise (optional)
1 pound udon, soba or rice noodles, or spaghetti
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar, or fresh lemon or lime juice
Kosher salt and ground pepper
1/2 head red cabbage, very thinly sliced
Kosher salt and ground pepper
1/4 cup fresh lemon and-or lime juice
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon and-or lime zest
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup tahini
1 garlic clove, finely grated
2 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 cup parsley and-or cilantro, tender leaves and stems, very finely chopped
Kosher salt and ground pepper
1 bunch scallions, very thinly sliced
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon or lime zest
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Kosher salt and ground pepper
More spicy things: Jarred pickled chiles, pickled jalapeƱos, Calabrian chiles - anything of the sort that will (lightly) set your mouth on fire are welcomed here.
Toasted seeds or nuts: Toast sesame seeds, chopped peanuts or almonds in a dry skillet until golden brown and toss with a little oil and salt; sprinkle over everything.

Steps:

  • Heat oil, fennel seed, pepper flakes, garlic, Sichuan peppercorns and star anise (if using) in a small pot over the lowest heat possible. Cook, swirling occasionally, until you start to hear and see the garlic and spices frizzle and toast in the oil, 5 to 8 minutes. (Every stove is different and sometimes the low isn't as low as we'd like, so keep an eye on things; it may take less time.) Keep cooking at the lowest heat setting until the spices are toasted and the garlic is golden brown, another 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, cook noodles in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. (If not using right away, spread onto a rimmed baking sheet and toss with a little canola oil to prevent sticking.)
  • If serving the citrusy cabbage, place cabbage in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add citrus juice and zest, tossing to coat. Let sit a few minutes to soften. Drizzle with olive oil before serving.
  • If serving the tahini sauce, whisk tahini, garlic, lemon juice, sesame oil and 1/4 cup water in a small bowl until a creamy dressing forms. (Tahini thickness varies greatly from brand to brand; if you need more water to achieve a smooth, creamy dressing, add it by the teaspoonful until you get the desired texture.) Add herbs and season with salt, pepper and more lemon juice, if desired. Alternatively, place all ingredients and 1/4 cup water in the bowl of a food processor and process until a smooth, creamy dressing forms.
  • If serving the lemony scallions, combine scallions, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest and soy sauce in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper and let sit for at least 5 minutes before serving.
  • When ready to eat, toss noodles with vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Spoon chile oil over the noodles, tossing to coat; keep adding the oil until your noodles are evenly coated. (Keep in mind you have other sauces for the noodles, so you're just looking for them to be coated and sufficiently spicy.) Serve any additional chile oil alongside for personal spooning, with the cabbage and other sauces if you like. See the notes for adding more spicy things and blanched or roasted vegetables.

bimala poudel
[email protected]

This dish was inedible. The noodles were hard and the cabbage was rotten. The flavors of the chile oil and citrusy cabbage were also very strange. I would not recommend this recipe to anyone.


Mukul Bepari
[email protected]

This dish was terrible. The noodles were undercooked and the cabbage was slimy. The flavors of the chile oil and citrusy cabbage were also very unpleasant. I would not recommend this recipe to anyone.


Saino Studio
[email protected]

I would not recommend this recipe. The noodles were mushy and the cabbage was limp. The flavors of the chile oil and citrusy cabbage were also not very good. I would not make this again.


stacey brunson
[email protected]

This dish was okay, but not great. The noodles were a bit bland and the cabbage was not very flavorful. The chile oil added a nice touch of heat, but it wasn't enough to save the dish. I would not make this again.


Brandy Crowder
[email protected]

I was a bit disappointed with this dish. The noodles were overcooked and the cabbage was too crunchy. The flavors of the chile oil and citrusy cabbage were also not very well-balanced. I would not make this again.


Md sabyl Ahmod
[email protected]

This dish was a bit too spicy for me, but the flavors were still really good. The cabbage was nice and crunchy and the noodles were cooked perfectly. I would definitely make this again, but I would use less chile oil next time.


jaundre stopforth
[email protected]

I'm always looking for new and exciting noodle dishes and this one definitely fits the bill. The flavors of the chile oil and citrusy cabbage were amazing together and the noodles were cooked perfectly. I would definitely make this again!


Ciao_sonorp
[email protected]

This recipe was easy to follow and the dish turned out great! The noodles were tender and the cabbage was still crunchy. The flavors of the chile oil and citrusy cabbage were amazing together. I would definitely make this again.


Kasule Haroonah
[email protected]

I loved this dish! The flavors were so well-balanced and the noodles were cooked perfectly. The cabbage added a nice crunch and the chile oil gave it a nice kick. I would definitely make this again.


Meerab Khaan
[email protected]

This was a really refreshing and flavorful dish. The noodles were cooked perfectly and the cabbage was still crunchy. The chile oil and citrusy cabbage were a great combination. I would definitely make this again!


D.A Hutchinson
[email protected]

I'm not a big fan of spicy food, but this dish was still enjoyable. The citrusy cabbage helped to balance out the heat of the chile oil. The noodles were also cooked perfectly. I would definitely make this again, but I would use less chile oil next t


Rahman Miju
[email protected]

This dish was so easy to make and it was absolutely delicious! The noodles were perfectly cooked and the cabbage was still crunchy. The flavors of the chile oil and citrusy cabbage were amazing together. I will definitely be making this again!


RAMA Zaiter
[email protected]

I was looking for a light and refreshing noodle dish and this recipe fit the bill perfectly. The chile oil and citrusy cabbage added a nice touch of flavor and heat. I would definitely make this again.


Theo Lethobane
[email protected]

This recipe was a hit at my dinner party! Everyone loved the combination of flavors and textures. The noodles were cooked perfectly and the cabbage was still crunchy. I will definitely be making this again!


quinn Osullivan
[email protected]

I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out great! The noodles were tender and the cabbage was crisp. The flavors of the chile oil and citrusy cabbage were well-balanced. I would definitely make this again.


Tirelo Montshwe
[email protected]

This was a really easy and flavorful dish to make. I loved the bright and tangy flavors of the citrusy cabbage. The chile oil added a nice kick of heat. I would definitely recommend this recipe!


Tenzin Selden
[email protected]

I'm not usually a fan of cold noodles, but this recipe changed my mind. The combination of the spicy chile oil and the refreshing citrusy cabbage was amazing. The noodles were also perfectly cooked and had a great texture. I'll definitely be making t


Mahesh Ghayal
[email protected]

Just made this and it was absolutely delicious! I was surprised at how well the flavors of the chile oil and citrusy cabbage complemented each other. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the cabbage was still crunchy and fresh. I will definitely be