Recipe: Oriental Primavera with Udon Noodles

ORIENTAL PRIMAVERA WITH UDON NOODLES

4 cup hot water
2 oz dried porcini mushrooms, (3 cups)
8 oz uncooked udon noodles, (thick round fresh Japanese wheat noodles) or spaghetti
2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 tbsp dark sesame oil
1 cup cubed extra-firm tofu, (about 4 ounces)
1/4 cup chopped peeled fresh lemon grass
2 tbsp minced peeled fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cup julienne-cut zucchini, (1-inch)
1 cup sliced button mushrooms
1 cup sliced shiitake mushroom caps
8 cup thinly sliced bok choy leaves
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro

Combine hot water and dried mushrooms, and let stand 20 minutes. Drain the mushrooms through a sieve over a bowl, and reserve the soaking liquid and mushrooms.

Cook noodles in boiling water 3 minutes, omitting salt and fat, and drain.

Return noodles to pot. Add reserved soaking liquid, soy sauce, and pepper; bring to a boil, and cook 8 minutes or until the soaking liquid is absorbed.

Stir in the reserved porcini mushrooms.

Heat sesame oil in a wok or large nonstick skillet. Add tofu, lemon grass, ginger, and garlic, and stir-fry 30 seconds. Add zucchini, button mushrooms, and shiitake mushrooms, and stir-fry 2 minutes. Add bok choy, and stir-fry 3 minutes or until wilted.

Divide noodle mixture evenly among 4 shallow bowls, and top with zucchini mixture. Sprinkle with cilantro.

Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups noodles, 1 1/2 cups zucchini mixture, and 1 tablespoon cilantro