Winter Veg Sesame Noodles

This sesame noodle stir-fry is a flexible, easy and quick way to use up red cabbage and any lingering winter vegetables. Perfect for leftover roasted veg or cooked proteins, this waste-reducing, flavour-packed dish can be customised every time you make it.

By Love Food Hate Waste

Serves 2

Prep/Cook time: 20 mins

Ingredients

120–150g noodles (ramen, udon, soba, rice noodles, or spaghetti)

Vegetables - use any mix you have

80–100 g red cabbage (about 1 heaped handful, thinly sliced)

50–60 g scrubbed carrot (½ medium carrot, cut into matchsticks)

60–80 g winter veg such as sweet potato, squash, parsnip, or Brussels sprouts (thinly sliced)

40–50 g onion or leek (about ¼ medium onion, thin slices)

1–2 cloves garlic, minced

Optional add-ins

1–2 tsp grated ginger (optional)

70–120 g leftover protein or tofu

A handful (around 20–30 g) spinach, kale, or cabbage cores sliced thin

Sauce

1½ tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar

1 tsp sesame oil

1½ tsp honey or maple syrup

1 tbsp water

Optional: 1 tsp chilli crisp, 2 tsp hoisin or oyster sauce, tsp tahini or peanut butter (easy to customise with your cupboards!)

To finish (optional)

Sesame seeds

Spring onion

Lime or lemon wedge

Coriander

Perfect portions

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Recipe

Cook according to package directions until just done. Drain, rinse briefly under cold water, and toss with a little oil to prevent sticking.
Slice all the vegetables thinly so they cook quickly. Mix all the ingredients for the sauce well in a small bowl or mug. Set both to the side.
Heat 1–2 tbsp oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add the onion/leek, garlic, ginger and cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
Add your harder veg first (carrot, cabbage, squash, parsnip, Brussels sprouts). Stir-fry 4–6 minutes until starting to soften and char at the edges.
Stir in any cooked veg, mushrooms, greens, leftover chicken/tofu/etc. Cook for another 2–3 minutes.
Add noodles and pour in the sesame sauce. Toss everything over high heat for 1–2 minutes until glossy and well coated.
To finish, top with sesame seeds, spring onions, and a squeeze of citrus if you like.