Chinese Food

If you are a gluten intolerant you probably realize how difficult it is  to eat in a  restaurant. It becomes more difficult if you want to eat at a chinese restaurant. I was shocked to find that gluten is found in most of their food items, as simple as soy sauce. Why would you even go to a restaurant if you would have to eat steamed vegetables with rice? In the beginning I totally avoided chinese food. But then I found gluten free soy sauce and started making my own chowmein and some other dishes. Occasionally I would order at an Indo chinese restaurant and request them to hold sauce.  But still I feel cooking at home is the best.


Here is a simple recipe of Chowmein which takes few minutes to cook. But yes, the chopping  take up most of your time.

VEGETARIAN CHOWMEIN

Ingredients: 250 gm Rice noodles, 2&1/2 cup vegetables ( carrot, beans,green pepper and red pepper),1cup thinly sliced cabbage, 1/2 tbsp finely sliced ginger, 3tblsp oil, 1&1/2 tsp any vinegar, 1tbsp soy sauce, salt and pepper to taste, ketchup and sesame seeds optional

Method: In a saucepan bring water to boil. Cut the vegetables and ginger thinly. You can substitute whatever vegetables you want to use but you must have cabbage. Chinese usually put napa cabbage but I am using regular cabbage. It is equally great.

When the water starts boiling add rice noodles. Loosen noodles with a fork. Boil for one minute then turn off the heat. Let the noodles stay in hot water for couple of minutes. Drain all the water.

Heat oil in a wok on medium heat. Swirl it (oil) around . Add  vegetables starting with the ones which take longer to cook. Start with carrot, ginger and broccoli. Stir fry for 45 to 60 seconds. Then  add beans, green pepper and red pepper. Stir fry till everything looked cooked and tender (not mushy). Just before adding noodles add cabbage.

Stir in the noodles, balsamic vinegar and soy sauce. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper.


Garnish with toasted sesame seeds.Serve with ketchup and some extra soy sauce.