Happy Lunar New Year! Today is the start of the Year of the Pig 🐖 and we’ve been delving into the fascinating symbolism of the food of Chinese New Year. Mandarin oranges 🍊 bring riches, shrimps 🍤 happiness and good fortune and noodles 🍜 stand for longevity. So we’ve cooked up this amazingly delicious and fairly easy Mandarin Shrimp Noodle Bowl for you to make at home. And may it bring you all the luck, happiness and riches you deserve. Also, since it’s considered unlucky to cut your noodles, happy slurping!
Ingredients
Serves 4
1 pound (500 g) jumbo cooked shrimp (tails still on looks nicer, tails off is easier to eat, your choice!)
1 paket (10.5 oz, 300g) long egg noodles
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
2 medium sized shallots, chopped
2 medium sized garlic cloves, chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
1 large red or yellow bell pepper, deseeded and chopped into half an inch (1,2 cm) pieces
juice of 7 mandarin oranges
4 tbsp low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
1 inch piece of fresh ginger, finely grated or minced
3 tsp honey
3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 cups water
2 tsp chili garlic sauce (optional, but good!)
Garnish
black sesame seeds
4 thin scallions
4 mandarin oranges, cut into segments
Instructions
In a wok or a large heavy skillet, warm the olive oil and toasted sesame oil on medium heat. Add the shallots, garlic and bell pepper and sauté until soft. Add the mandarin juice, soy sauce, ginger, honey, apple cider vinegar, water and chili garlic sauce if using. Stir and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat down to low and let simmer with the lid on for 10 minutes. Add shrimps and noodles and cook until noodles are just done (don’t overcook them, so keep checking!), about 4-6 minutes. If you find you have too little liquid, add 1/2 cup of water. While the noodles are cooking, cut your mandarins for the garnish into segments. Here’s a good How To video, in case you’re not quite sure about that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xENXYCCh2zg. Slice your shallots at an angle for the garnish. When the noodles are just done, split them into four bowls, making sure everyone also has enough shrimps, peppers and sauce. Food jealousy is real! Garnish with a sprinkling of black sesame seeds, scallions and mandarin segments. Serve immediately.