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Cook the Book: Mee Goreng

Posted by Caroline Russock, June 25, 2009 at 1:30 PM

Although they are worlds apart, the hawker centres of Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong have a lot in common with Farmers Market in L.A. They are both vast complexes of stalls selling inexpensive prepared food to people on the go. You might not find tacos and doughnuts in a Singaporean hawker centre, but you will find authentic Singaporean specialties in Farmers Market.

Singapore's Banana Leaf is a family operation in the market serving Singaporean classics such as curries and noodles. This recipe for Mee Goreng from JoAnn Cianciulli's L.A.'s Original Farmers Market Cookbook is a classic hawker stall dish, spicy stir-fried noodles topped with a fried egg. This is a great vegetarian recipe on its own, but you can always add chicken or tofu to beef it up.

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Mee Goreng

- serves 4 -

Adapted from L.A.'s Original Farmers Market Cookbook by JoAnn Cianciulli.

Ingredients

2 small russet potatoes
Kosher salt
3/4 pound thin yellow egg noodles
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon peeled and minced fresh ginger
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
Freshly ground white pepper
1/4 cup dark soy sauce
1 cup fresh bean sprouts
4 green onions, white and green parts, sliced, plus more more garnish
4 fried eggs (optional)
Crispy fried shallots for garnish (see Note)
1 lime cut into wedges, for serving

Procedure

1. Put the potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and bring to a boil, uncovered. Simmer until there is no resistance when a fork is inserted into the potatoes, about 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes in a colander. When they are still hot, carefully peel off the skins with a paring knife; use a kitchen towel to hold them. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces.

2. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the noodles until just tender but still firm to the bite (al dente), about 7 minutes. Take care not to overcook. Rinse under running cool water and drain well. Set aside.

3. Place a wok or a large skillet over medium heat and coat with oil. When the oil gets hazy, add the onion, garlic, and ginger. Cook and stir until the vegetables are tender but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the potatoes and continue to cook and stir for 2 minutes to combine and heat through.

4. Push the vegetables to the sides of the pan and pour the eggs into the center. Scramble the eggs lightly until set, breaking them up into pieces with a spatula. Incorporate the vegetables into the eggs; season with the turmeric, paprika, and salt and pepper to taste.

5. Add the drained noodles to the wok, stirring and tossing quickly to separate the strands. Pour in the soy sauce, tossing well to coat the noodles and keep them from sticking (drizzle with 1 to 2 tablespoons of water, if necessary). Add the bean sprouts and green onions; cook and stir until softened slightly, about 5 minutes.

6. Divide the noodles among 4 plates, top with a fried egg, if using, and garnish with sliced green onion and fried shallots. Serve with the lime wedges.

Ingredient Note-Fried Shallots: Crispy fried shallots add a finishing touch to many Asian dishes, particularly those with Thai influence, and often garnish rice and noodle dishes, as well as salads. They are simple to make: Thinly slice 4 or 5 shallots crosswise and separate into rings. Heat 1 inch of vegetable oil in a wok or deep skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, fry the shallots until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. If you don't want to make the fried shallots yourself, most Asian markets carry crisp fried shallots in plastic tubs or packets.

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Tags: Cook the Book, JoAnn Cianciulli, L.A.'s Original Farmers Market Cookbook, noodles, Singaporean