A Quick and Flavourful vegetarian meal, that can be ready in a jiffy. When You looking for some soul food or comfort food, then Mee Goreng (Fried Noodles), is the way to go… the healthy way.
Doing a bit of a Throwback on this post, to my holiday spent in Bali, April 2017. Bali is known for it’s Sandy Beaches, Amazing tourist attractions and the friendly people of this tiny island in Indonesia. Would I want to go back??? YES, MOST definitely.
But if you have been to Bali, or plan to go in the near future, You will notice this dish, Mee Goreng, available on every menu, be it a street vendor or a top restaurant. This fried noodle, together with it’s similar dish Nasi Goreng (Fried Rice) are a couple of the more popular dishes to be enjoyed in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The origins of Mee Goreng is believed to be Chinese, brought to Indonesia by the Chinese, and made up by Indian immigrants. It may be a little similar to Chow Mein, and can be made with chicken, prawns, beef or plain old vegetables.
Apart from enjoying all that Bali had to offer, My habibi, Imran and I, challenged ourselves, and booked a COOKING CLASS in Bali. The 1st of many such culinary experience I hope to do in future. If you have not done cooking class, while on International Soil, Take it from me, It is So worth the Time and Effort, that experience is precious. We booked in Bali, through our wonderful tour company there (Buffalo Tours), and they had chosen for us Anika Guest House, Cooking Class, based in Kuta, Bali. The chef from the cooking class, met us in the hustle and bustle of morning traffic, in Kuta town, and then did a tour of the local markets, together with enlightening us on the various ingredients we would be using for our cooking class. After a few purchases, hey we tourists after all, we and the group of other tourists, headed to the cooking class Kitchen. Grouped together with other foreign tourists, makes for an interesting cooking session, and I was surprised to see Imran had actually enjoyed this class. One of the many dishes we made, was MEE GORENG…which was also vegetarian. I knew I had to come back home, and re-create this dish.
Have a Look at this short clip of One of the ladies on my team, at the Anika Guest house cooking class, preparing the Mee Goreng, Under close supervision from the chef. The Cover Pic on the video clip, is our end result of the Mee Goreng.
So back Home, we don’t always find the ingredients we used in Bali. But Like I tell many of my family and friends, always try to substitute an ingredient, and you will be surprised with the outcome. A lot of the spices we are familiar with, as South African Indians, are also found and used in Bali, or Indonesian Cuisine. So that was half my battle won. I know that Mee Goreng, needs a Sweet Soy Sauce, but not having any on hand, I made use of sugar. I love using the Robertsons Brand of Exotic Thai seasoning, as It encompasses all the favours of Asian cuisine. If you can’t find this brand, make use of any other Asian Seasoning spice or check with your Asian Store for more options. You will find I did not use Tomato Sauce, which is found in Mee Goreng, and it still turned out brilliantly. Got the thumbs up from my toughest critic, Imran. I enjoyed this as my weekly ‘Meat-Free’ meal, but added on a saucy steak for my better half, as it makes for a perfect side dish as well.
So why not give this Mee Goreng recipe a try soon, and you too can make your tastebuds visit the beautiful lands of Bali, Indonesia.
Happy “Mee Goreng” Stir frying lovelies
Love Marriam
PLEASE DO REMEMBER TO RATE THIS RECIPE, AND ANY OF MY OTHER RECIPES THAT YOU HAVE TRIED, AT THE END OF THE BLOG POSTS.
HAVE YOU TRIED MY OTHER ASIAN INSPIRED RECIPES?
HERE CHECK OUT MY CHICKEN CHOW MEIN RECIPE, AS WELL AS MY BA-MEE PRIK-PHAO RECIPE.
NOW… let’s get this Mee Goreng stir frying started!!!
Balinese Vegetarian Mee Goreng aka Fried Noodles
AUTHOR: FOODEVA MARSAY (@foodeva_marsay)
INGREDIENTS
250 Grams Spaghetti OR EGG NOODLES
1/4 teaspoon Egg Yellow Food Colouring Powder (optional)
Vegetable Ingredients:
1 Medium red Onion, thinly Sliced into rounds
2 Cup Sliced Mushrooms (1 punnet)
1 Cup carrots, julienned
1 Cup red and green Capsicum peppers, Julienned (peppers)
2 Cups chopped Spinach/Bok choi/Cabbage
1/2 Cup roasted cashew nuts (optional)
Spring Onion/Parsely/corainder for serving
Spices Needed:
1/4 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
1/2 teaspoon Ginger Powder
3 Tablespoon Robertsons Exotic Thai seasoning
3 Tablespoon Ina Paarman’s Vegetable Spice
1/2 teaspoon Chilli Flakes (crushed Chilli)
1 teaspoon Cumin Powder
3 tablespoon Vinegar
3 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
2-3 Tablespoon Sugar (brown or white)
1/2- 1 teaspoon Salt, or to taste
Nigella Seeds (kalonji seeds) to garnish
1-2 Red Chillies, finely sliced to serve
3 Tablespoon Light Sesame Oil
INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1
~ Prepare the spaghetti, according to pack instructions, and add the egg yellow powder to the water when boiling. If using egg noodles, you may omit the colouring.
STEP 2
~ Prepare all the vegetables, either slice or julienned
STEP 3
~ In a Large Pan, or WOK, Add in the Sesame Oil (Or any variety of oil)
~ Add in the Onions and Carrots, stir fry until onions are translucent
~ Add in the Mushrooms and Peppers
~ Follow by adding all of the spices, and stir fry until well combined. Only add a dash of water if needed, and lower stove heat
~ When the Vegetables are well coated in spices, add in the Chopped Cashews, the prepared spaghetti and lastly the chopped spinach (or any of the other mentioned leafy vegetables)
~ Toss all these together, just until the Spinach begins to wilt.
~ Adjust Salt seasoning, and add a little more of the Exotic Thai seasoning as well
~ Serve piping hot, with a garnish of Spring Onions/Parsley/Coriander, Sliced Red Chillies, a Sprinkle of Nigella Seeds(Kalonji seeds) and a Wedge of Lime
ENJOY
NOTES BY FOODEVA MARSAY
> You can use any type of Noodle you prefer, I used Spaghetti that I coloured with Egg Yellow Colouring.
> To make this a Non-Vegetarian version, simply add 200 grams-300 grams of either chicken/beef cubes/strips or Prawns, Fry them in the oil (add garlic) and then the rest as mentioned.
> Any types of Vegetable Oils will be fine to use, Sesame oil, just adds a wonderful nutty taste to this dish.
> Substitute the Brands of spices (exotic Thai or Vegetable spice) to any brand you prefer.
> Be careful adding on more salt, as the seasonings do also contain salt.
> You can also top this Mee Goring Dish with crispy fried, golden brown onions.
> Any other types of vegetables may be used.
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