*crispy waffle*

I've had a nagging cold lately. I haven't been, like, sick sick, just a bit under the weather-- congested and sneezing. Whenever that happens, all I seem to want are Chinese noodle soups, or mami soup, as it's known in the Philippines. The problem is when I feel that way, I don't feel like cooking, so I cheat. No homemade stock-- just (gasp) Thai boullion cubes, and (gasp) dried noodles. But, it'll taste just as good as the real deal when you're sick (and even if you're not) and if you disguise it with other ingredients. And, by the way, the whole thing takes less than 10 minutes, start to finish, so you can take a nap afterwards.

Quick Soup Noodles
2 servings
I usually make this with whatever is in the house. If you have leftover chicken, add it, or if you have other vegetables such as cabbage, bok choy or any other quick-cooking leafy greens.

Ingredients:
4 cups water
2 Thai chicken boullion cubes
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or 1 dried whole chile)
1 garlic clove
2-3 mushrooms
handful of spinach (or any other green vegetables that are in the house)
2 hard-boiled eggs
2 scallions, sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
100 grams dried Chinese egg noodles

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

Meanwhile, heat the 4 cups of water in a teakettle. When it boils, pour it into a saucepan and dissolve the boullion cubes. Add the sesame oil, fish sauce, red pepper flakes (or whole chile), and salt and pepper. Smash the garlic clove a little bit with a knife, and add it to the broth, followed by the mushrooms and spinach. Cover and simmer on low-medium heat.

Add the dried noodles to the large pot of boiling water and boil for 2 minutes. Drain, run under cold water and divide between two soup bowls.

Slice the hard-boiled eggs lengthwise and add to the soup bowls.

Pour the hot broth over the noodles and egg, and garnish with scallions.

Slurp with a soup spoon and chopsticks.

The type of Chinese egg noodles that cook fast (this is about 4 servings)...

... to make soup noodles in less than 10 minutes.

Labels: recipes, the savory and salty

posted by sheryl | 7:29 PM |

Mmm, those noodles are so good. I always just go down to Ocean City Noodle House or Canton Wonton House across the street, both on Weller in the ID. I love getting bbq pork and dumplings (with baby bok choy of course).

But I love, love, love a boiled egg in my noodle soup when I'm under the weather; that you have to make at home. Although I have had an udon where the cracked an egg to cook in the heat of the soup, as well...

Speaking of cheater's soup, check out my cioppino. It might not be the cheatin'est soup recipe you ever saw, but it's up there.
By

john patrick 2/16/06 5:46 AM

Why is it that when a person gets sick he/she thinks of hot mami? I was sick few weeks ago and all I could think of is mami though I didn’t cheat that time. Oh well maybe a little since I also used dry Chinese noodles…
By

iska 3/17/06 8:25 AM