Description
This Sweet and Sour Noodles recipe offers a quick and flavorful dish combining tender lo mein or spaghetti noodles with a vibrant sauce made from ketchup, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and mirin. Enhanced with sautéed bell pepper, onion, ginger, and garlic, it’s a perfect savory and tangy meal ready in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup chicken or vegetable stock
- 2–3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons mirin or pineapple juice
Noodles & Fat
- 9 ounces lo mein noodles, spaghetti, or linguine, cooked
- 2 tablespoons butter or sesame oil (for cooking)
Garnish & Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat butter or sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped bell pepper, onion, and minced ginger. Sauté the vegetables until they are slightly softened and golden, about 3-4 minutes. Then add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant.
- Make Sauce: Pour in the ketchup, low-sodium soy sauce, chicken or vegetable stock, rice wine vinegar, and mirin (or pineapple juice). Stir thoroughly to combine the ingredients evenly and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat.
- Reduce Sauce: Continue simmering the sauce for approximately 4 to 5 minutes, allowing it to thicken slightly and the flavors to meld together.
- Toss with Noodles: Turn off the heat and add the cooked noodles to the skillet. Toss everything together carefully to ensure the noodles are coated evenly with the sweet and sour sauce and vegetables.
- Season and Serve: Season the dish with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper according to your taste preferences. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and serve the noodles immediately while warm.
Notes
- Use any long pasta or Asian-style noodles like lo mein, spaghetti, or linguine based on availability.
- Mirin can be substituted with pineapple juice for a fruity sweetness if preferred.
- Adjust rice vinegar quantity between 2 to 3 tablespoons depending on your desired tartness.
- For a vegan option, use vegetable stock and sesame oil instead of butter.
- To enhance flavor, consider adding chili flakes or a dash of hot sauce for some heat.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
