Noodles with shrimps...

I always complain about summer, the heat, the humidity. But there are few things that are undeniably good about summer, the seasonal fruits like mangoes, litchi, black plums. And the best part is the summer break. The school is closed, the kid is at home, alarms are not buzzing at the wee hour of the morning, altogether a relaxed and happy me.

Summer break means fun time with my ten year old. We do crafts, watch movies, read story books together, and the most interesting part is we plan our everyday menu. And often the man complains that we two are having too much fun at home without him. Sorry his office doesn't allow a long summer break like the schools.

Being the only daughter of two hardcore foodies the ten year old too has her own strong opinion about food. She loves to experiment with different kinds of food, and enjoys when I cook something different than the usual rice and curry. And I take it up as challenge to surprise her with something special. No I do not try any elaborate spread, but prefer to stick to her favorite list. So pizza, pastas, fajitas, noodles are frequently prepared in my kitchen. Though she gets all these during her school days in her lunch box, but during the break she enjoys more as the food are piping hot and we can seat together to enjoy the food.

Here is one such recipe, noodles with bell peppers and shrimps. I didn't follow any strict recipe, added whatever sauces and seasonings are at home. This can be made with chicken or other meat too.

Things needed to make noodles with shrimps:

(Serves: 4)

For the shrimps:

• Shrimps (shelled and deveined): 12
• Soy sauce: 1 tbsp
• Sriracha: 1 tbsp
• Rice wine vinegar: 1 tsp

For the noodles:

• Flat noodles: 1 packet
• Onion (sliced): 1 medium
• Garlic (minced): 4-5 cloves
• Bell peppers (sliced): 1 cup
• Spring onion: a bunch
• Bean sprouts: 1/2 cup

For the sauce:

• Hoisin sauce: 3 tbsp
• Soy sauce: 2 tbsp
• Honey: 2 tsp
• Sesame oil: 2 tsp
• Sriracha: 2-3 tbsp
• Water: 1/4 cup

Others:

• Oil to cook
• Water to boil the noodles
• Salt: 2 tsp
• Eggs: 2

Steps of making noodles with shrimps:

1. Take the shelled and deveined shrimps and add soy sauce, sriracha, rice wine vinegar and marinate for 12-15 min.

2. In bowl add the ingredients for the sauce, mix well and keep aside.

3. Separate the green and white part of the spring onion. Leaves the white part as long strips, finely chop the green part, keep aside.

4. Cut the vegetables, I used colorful bell peppers, other vegetables like carrots, mushrooms, broccoli can also be used as per choice.

5. In a large deep pan boil enough water to cook the noodles, with salt. When the water boils add the noodles and cook according to the package instruction. Drain the noodles in a perforated colander, toss the noodles with few teaspoons of oil and keep aside.

6. While the noodles is cooking, in a wok heat a tablespoon of oil, beat the egg and when the oil is hot fry the egg. Cut into strips and keep aside.

7. In the same wok heat a tablespoon of oil and fry the shrimps for 2 mins on each side and keep aside.

8. In the same wok, heat two tablespoon of oil, when hot add garlic, cook over high heat for 1-2 min. Add the onion slices, bell peppers, white part of the spring onion, cook for 3-4 mins over high heat. Sprinkle a little salt.

9. Add the cooked noodles, mix well. Add the sauce, fried shrimp, fried egg, bean sprouts, mix well. Cook over high heat for 3-4 min. Sprinkle chopped spring onion (the green part). Serve hot.

Note: *The steps may seem long, but if planned previously it hardly take 40 mins to finish preparing the entire dish. While the shrimps are marinating prepare all the vegetables. And start cooking the vegetables and the shrimps while the noodles is getting ready.
*I used flat noodles, regular noodles, rice noodles, or soba noodles can also be used as per choice.
*I added very little salt as soy sauce and hoisin sauce contain high amount of salt, taste before adding extra salt.
*Sriracha is a spicy red chili sauce, it may be substituted by any other hot sauce. And use as per taste.

If you like to get regular updates from me go to my Facebook page and click on the Like button. You can also follow me on Twitter (@Kcolorandspices) and Instagram (@colorandspices) Thank you..!!!