Description
This Sweet and Sour Noodles recipe is a quick and flavorful dish combining sautéed vegetables with a tangy homemade sauce. Cooked noodles are tossed in a balanced blend of ketchup, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and mirin, offering a delightful fusion of savory and sweet tastes perfect for a weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Sauce and Toppings
- ½ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup chicken or vegetable stock
- 2-3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons mirin or pineapple juice
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
For the Vegetables and Noodles
- 2 tablespoons butter or sesame oil
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 9 ounces lo mein noodles, spaghetti, or linguine, cooked
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat butter or sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped bell pepper, onion, and minced ginger. Sauté until vegetables are slightly softened and lightly golden, approximately 3-4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant.
- Make Sauce: Pour in ketchup, low-sodium soy sauce, chicken or vegetable stock, rice wine vinegar, and mirin (or pineapple juice) into the skillet with the vegetables. Stir well to combine all the ingredients evenly and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Reduce Sauce: Allow the sauce to simmer over medium heat for about 4-5 minutes until it thickens slightly and reduces to a more concentrated consistency, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Toss with Noodles: Turn off the heat and add the cooked noodles to the skillet. Toss vigorously to coat the noodles evenly in the sweet and sour sauce and vegetable mixture.
- Season and Serve: Taste and season with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper as desired. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- You can use any type of noodles such as lo mein, spaghetti, or linguine depending on preference.
- Mirin can be substituted with pineapple juice for a fruity note if desired.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce to control the salt content of the dish.
- For a vegetarian version, use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.
- Adjust rice wine vinegar quantity to balance the tanginess according to your taste preference.
